At the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry in Pretoria, National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola provided clarity surrounding his role in responding to instructions from the Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu. The focus of this testimony arose from the controversial disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team, a move Masemola claims encroached on his jurisdiction.
The disbandment, which took effect in December 2024, has been met with backlash, particularly from KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Mkhwanazi alleged that the decision was mired in political intrigue and was intended to protect influential figures connected to criminal activities. His assertions have intensified scrutiny on the motives and implications of the Minister’s decision.
Masemola articulated a critical condition for adherence to any directive from Mchunu: the instruction must be legal. “If ever he found anything wrong with the task team, he could have said, ‘Task team, I think you could disband it, and we can engage in terms of the why and how and so on’,” he explained. However, he described Mchunu’s command to disband the task team, coupled with the urgency of ‘now, now, now, and not tomorrow’ as a significant overreach of authority.
The Commissioner expressed clear frustration, stating, “That is a total encroachment of the mandate of the National Commissioner in terms of the performance of my duties.” These remarks underscore his stance on the separation of powers within the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the importance of operational independence from political influence.