Senthumule defends political killings task team funding

Acting deputy national police commissioner for crime detection Hilda Senthumule believes the argument that the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT)  was draining the SAPS budget holds no weight.

Senthumule, informed the Madlanga Commission of inquiry on Friday that all task teams cost money.

She played a central role in the handling of 121 dockets that were taken from the PKTT to SAPS headquarters in Pretoria for four months.

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Madlanga Commission: Senthumule dismisses argument that PKTT was unduly draining SAPS budget

Senthumule doesn’t believe that PKTT was financially draining the coffers of the SAPS national budget.

In his letter of disbandment on December 31, on special leave police minister Senzo Mchunu cited budget constraints as one of the reasons for axing the task team.

But Senthumule said budget constraints for task teams isn’t something new.

"I don't want to really get myself involved on whether the PKTT  was draining resources but I can respond and say that even the teams that we deploy, we come to a point where we are told there is no money and we have to reapply to the CFO for extension of the budget, it’s how it works," said Senthumule .

A budget of R31 million for the 2025/26 period was approved for the PKTT in August.