Mchunu justifies PKTT disbandment amid 'systematic human rights violations' claims

The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has heard accusations of incidents of gross human rights violations by members of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).

Suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu resumed his testimony before the commission on Thursday afternoon, where he is outlining the reasons why he took the decision to disband the PKTT in December last year.

However, his disbandment instruction was never formally implemented, with the National Police Commissioner overriding his authority by allowing the PKTT to continue to exist.

According to Senzo Mchunu, the PKTT far outlived their core mandate of dealing with politically motivated murders. He claims PKTT members were involved in acts of human rights violations in the manner in which they conducted their operations and investigations.

"The National Political Killings Task Team has for some time been credibly accused of systematic human rights violations."

Mchunu says that in some instances, PKTT members conceal their identities when conducting operations, which shouldn't be the case in a democracy.

"It’s quite concerning to hear stories of members of PKTT wearing balaclavas when they do some of their operations, when you wouldn’t expect them to do so. A culture, in my view, that is not consonant with democracy."

Mchunu cited the arrest and detention of lawyer, Sarah Burger, who accused the PKTT of abuse after she exposed graft corruption at the University of Fort Hare.