Police Commissioner backs claims of links between crime syndicate and Minister Mchunu

National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola has confirmed his agreement with KwaZulu-Natal's top police official, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, that there were credible links between an alleged crime syndicate member and Minister Senzo Mchunu.

Commissioner Masemola also supported submissions suggesting that the head of Crime Intelligence, Dumisani Khumalo, was deliberately targeted.

This targeting was allegedly part of a scheme to thwart ongoing police investigations.

Parliament's Ad Hoc Committee heard evidence that Khumalo’s arrest was highly questionable and severely disrupted Crime Intelligence operations.

Mkhwanazi told the committee earlier this week that Khumalo's arrest was part of a "project" that also involved the disbanding of the political killings task team (PKTT).

He further stressed that the arrest was also aimed at stopping criminal investigations being conducted in Gauteng.

Committee member Sibonelo Nomvalo asked Masemola whether he believed Mkhwanazi's claims regarding links between murder accused Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala, businessman Brown Mogotsi, and Minister Mchunu.

Masemola confirmed his belief in the evidence presented to the committee.

"I believe General Mkhwanazi might have shown you some WhatsApp messages, and General Khumalo will still show you other messages that can give evidence to that effect in terms of communication between Mr Mogotsi, between Cat Matlala, and between the Minister," he stated.

Masemola further informed the committee that he had attempted to get an explanation from Mchunu regarding his decision to disband the Political Killings Task Team, but his efforts were to no avail.