Crime Intelligence Head contradicts Minister over Political Killings Task Team dissolution

Crime Intelligence Head Dumisani Khumalo has reaffirmed that the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) supported the continued operations of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), countering recent claims made by government leadership.

Khumalo is the latest witness to appear before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee investigating police corruption. His testimony directly contradicts evidence submitted by Minister Senzo Mchunu, who previously claimed his directive to disband the PKTT was supported by the President.

During the inquiry, Khumalo clarified the legal and procedural foundations of such units, noting that only the National Commissioner possesses the power to establish task teams.

Furthermore, Khumalo sought to correct what he described as a common misconception: that the PKTT was formed as a direct result of the Moerane Commission. While the Moerane Commission was established in KwaZulu-Natal to investigate the underlying causes of political violence from 2011 onwards, Khumalo maintained that the decision to form the task team rested entirely with the National Commissioner.

The Crime Intelligence head revealed that the IMC specifically resolved that the PKTT should remain active—a decision made months before Minister Mchunu’s December 2024 directive to dissolve it.

"The last briefing that I did to the IMC was in September 2023," Khumalo testified. "There are about three or four resolutions towards the end of the minutes. One of the resolutions was that the task team cannot be dissolved; it must continue."

Khumalo noted that the final briefing provided to President Cyril Ramaphosa took place in March 2024, ahead of the general elections. According to his testimony, that was the last time the IMC convened oversight over the PKTT before the current dispute regarding its future began.