Ad-Hoc Committee
Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia says Mchunu’s disbandment of the KwaZulu‑Natal Political Killings Task Team may have been valid, but the lack of consultation with key stakeholders and unclear directives risked disrupting investigations, undermining public trust, and highlighting gaps in police governance.
Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has weighed in on former Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s controversial decision to disband the KwaZulu‑Natal Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), acknowledging that while the move may have been correct in principle, the process followed was deeply flawed. Cachalia addressed Parliament’s ad hoc committee on police oversight, highlighting the tension between the minister’s authority and proper consultation protocols.
According to Cachalia, Mchunu was entitled to question the task team’s relevance, but failed to engage with key stakeholders, including the National Police Commissioner, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), and intelligence services. This lack of consultation, Cachalia argued, undermined confidence in the decision and risked operational disruptions in ongoing investigations.
The PKTT, established to investigate politically motivated killings, had been credited with improving coordination on sensitive cases that previous units struggled to handle. Cachalia warned that dismantling such a unit without proper planning could create gaps in intelligence gathering and case management, potentially endangering both investigations and public trust.
Cachalia also questioned the timing of Mchunu’s directive. The decision, issued on 31 December 2024, ordered the immediate deactivation of the task team, while requesting reports and justifications that were impossible to provide because relevant assessments and consultations had not occurred. The lack of clarity raised concerns over governance, financial accountability, and the risk of wasteful expenditure, Cachalia said.
The acting minister emphasised that the core issue was not the decision itself but the manner in which it was implemented. “From my point of view, it is not that the minister took the view that the task team should be disbanded, it’s the process that was followed,” he told the committee. He called for a review of how such decisions are executed to ensure transparency, accountability, and operational continuity.
Cachalia highlighted that while Mchunu may have had valid reasons to question the continued relevance of the PKTT, failing to follow proper consultation protocols sent a troubling signal about leadership and coordination within the police. He urged that the lessons from this incident be used to strengthen governance structures, safeguard ongoing investigations, and ensure that specialized units tasked with tackling high‑risk crimes are managed effectively.
