Cele contradicts Mchunu over disbandment of Political Killings Task Team

Former Police Minister Bheki Cele has told Parliament that current Police Minister Senzo Mchunu may have overreached when he issued a directive to disband the Political Killings Task Team.

Cele was giving testimony on the first day of his appearance before the Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee investigating police corruption.

Cele said Mchunu, who wrapped up his evidence yesterday, was also wrong when he claimed that the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) that watches over the task team no longer existed in the 7th administration.

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Cele contradicted Mchunu’s submissions while testifying on Thursday.

Mchunu had informed the Ad Hoc Committee that he was empowered to issue a directive disbanding the task team without having to consult the National Police Commissioner.

But Cele disagrees, stating: “Just to get some outside influence with very tough language to say you instruct. Ministers don’t instruct National Commissioners.”

He said the IMC, which exercises oversight of the task team, stated in 2023 that the task team should not have been disbanded.

“These ministers under the new ministries, they are there, and it goes for the elections in 2024, this [IMC] is there,” Cele stated.

Cele also denied knowing controversial businessman Brown Mogotsi but admitted that he knows murder accused Vusimizi 'Cat' Matlala, saying he only met him last year.