Mosikili slams haphazard disbanding of Political Killings Task Team

Deputy National Commissioner responsible for policing, Tebello Mosikili, told Parliament on Tuesday that the decision to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) was haphazard and left her deeply confused.

Giving evidence before the Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations of police corruption, Mosikili alleged she was sidelined by fellow Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya regarding the decision.

The directive to dissolve the unit was reportedly issued on New Year’s Eve in 2024 by the Minister on special leave, Senzo Mchunu.

Lieutenant General Mosikili was originally scheduled to testify last year.

However, her appearance was postponed so she could oversee security operations for the G20 Leaders' Summit hosted in Johannesburg.

Upon the resumption of hearings on Tuesday, the committee focused on her knowledge of Minister Mchunu’s directive.

Mosikili emphasised her seniority and involvement in SAPS leadership, noting she has stepped in as Acting National Commissioner eleven times, including during the period the directive was issued.

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"The last acting was last week when Commissioner Fannie Masemola was out of the country," Mosikili stated. "This also happened during 2024/2025, when Masemola was on leave in December 2024."

Mosikili testified that the news caught her completely off guard, claiming the directive had already been leaked to the media before she was formally made aware of it.

She expressed scepticism regarding the document's legitimacy when she first encountered it.

"To be honest and frank, I became confused," she told the committee. "I was also surprised and questioned the authenticity of the directive, as I could not believe the content, precisely because of the tone of the letter."

The hearing is ongoing, with committee members expected to continue questioning Mosikili on the internal communication breakdowns and the implications of the PKTT’s disbandment.