Civil society backs Senzo Mchunu’s move to scrap Political Killings Task Team

Civil society organisations and researchers told Parliament that Police Minister Senzo Mchunu did not seem to have overstepped his powers when he issued a controversial directive to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).

On Wednesday, the parliamentary ad hoc committee on police corruption received submissions during public hearings, with some organisations expressing concern over the continued existence of the PKTT and how it was draining resources that could be better prioritised.

Dr Jean Redpath, of the Dullah Omar Institute, questioned the performance of the PKTT, adding that Mchunu had control over policy, including the operations of task teams.

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"And so the minister must be able to have some sway over policing. He must be able to direct policy and strategy, and if not, interfere in individual cases." 

However, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party member of Parliament (MP) David Skosana said Mchunu was wrong and defended the PKTT's performance.

"But let me tell you for free that the PKTT was a success in KwaZulu-Natal. We have fewer murders as we speak here," Skosana said.