PKTT
Acting Deputy National Police Commissioner Hilda Senthumule told the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry the Political Killings Task Team was never a drain on the SAPS budget, pointing out that all police task teams incur costs and that PKTT had received a R31 million allocation for 2025/26.
Acting Deputy National Police Commissioner Hilda Senthumule has rejected assertions that the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) unduly burdened the South African Police Service (SAPS) budget. Testifying before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Friday, Senthumule said that the financial needs of task teams are no different from those of other specialised policing units and that spending does not equal waste.
She noted that a budget of R31 million for the 2025/26 period was approved for the PKTT in August, underscoring that the unit was considered formally funded and resourced.
Senthumule also addressed the fate of 121 politically-linked murder dockets previously handled by the PKTT, which had been transferred to SAPS headquarters in Pretoria for four months. She played a central role in their management during that period, showing institutional continuity even amid restructuring.
Her testimony comes after the PKTT was abruptly disbanded at the end of 2024 by directive from then-Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who cited budget constraints among his reasons.
Critics of the disbandment had argued that closing the PKTT amidst serious investigations, including 121 unresolved politically motivated killings, was suspicious and possibly politically motivated.
Senthumule labelled the decision to shutter the task team as “business unusual,” suggesting it bypassed proper procedure and failed to consider the ongoing workload and cost-effectiveness of the unit.
As the commission continues its hearings, Senthumule’s defence of the PKTT’s funding raises fresh questions about whether the disbandment was justified on financial grounds, or whether deeper institutional or political pressures were at play
