KZN Police Commissioner rejects 'political' rationale for disbanding PKTT

KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has dismissed suggestions that the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team was a lawful or purely political decision.

Mkhwanazi maintains that the decision to disband the task team by Minister Senzo Mchunu was wrong and should not have been influenced by political machinations.

READ: Ad Hoc committee resumes following lengthy adjournment over Mkhwanazi's statement

The KwaZulu-Natal top cop was giving evidence on the first day of the parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee’s hearings into allegations of police corruption.

Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi finally took to the hot seat after a lengthy delay due to issues surrounding his sworn statement that was presented to the committee.

Evidence leader Norman Arendse started his questioning by asking Mkhwanazi about his views on the Political Killings Task Team.

Arendse presented a potential argument "It will be argued by some implicated that this was a political initiative, it was a task team established and appointed to perform a particular task from time to time, and the decision to disband it was a political decision, and it was entirely lawful for the decision to be taken."

Mkhwanazi rejected the assertion, insisting that the matter cannot be considered political.

"I don't think the legislature cared as to which political party the member belongs to," Mkhwanazi stated. "So, to put a statement and say it was a political decision, what if the Minister is not a politician? So, I don’t think that argument will stand."

Mkhwanazi said the task team should be kept alive as the country approaches another election next year.