Mchunu's instruction to Masemola to disband KZN PKTT not appropriate, Madlanga Commission told

Head of SAPS' legal division, Major-General Petronella van Rooyen, has come out in support of national police commissioner, Fannie Masemola, and KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
 
Van Rooyen is testifying before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Thursday and has provided legal insight into matters of contention related to the instruction to disband the KZN political killings task team (PKTT). 
 
The instruction was issued by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on 31 December last year, who wrote to Masemola, claiming the task team no longer added value in the SAPS’ fight against political killings.

While the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry will ultimately have the final say in whether the instruction by Mchunu to disband the KZN political killings task team was unlawful or not, SAPS' legal head believes it was.

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Van Rooyen outlined her stance on Mchunu’s letter to the Madlanga Commission in Pretoria on Thursday.

"It can never be appropriate for the minister to instruct the national commissioner, not only to disband the PKTT but also to say the disbandment must be done immediately."
 
She clarified what the Mchunu should have done instead.
 
"What would have been an appropriate path is for the minister to express that he no longer considers political killings to be a priority and direct the national commissioner to consider and take steps to align it with his directive."
 
Van Rooyen will conclude her testimony on Thursday, with a representative from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) expected to testify on Friday.