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KZN – Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has accused KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi of making threats in response to his decision to dismantle the political killings task team (PKTT), while emphasising that President Cyril Ramaphosa supported the disbandment.
On Friday, Mchunu appeared for the second day before Parliament’s ad hoc committee at the Good Hope Chamber in Cape Town.
The inquiry is investigating allegations made by Mkhwanazi in July about criminal infiltration, corruption and political interference in the justice system.
Mchunu, currently on special leave, faces accusations that he disbanded the KZN-based PKTT to halt investigations into a drug cartel.
Mchunu told the committee he received a WhatsApp message from Mkhwanazi in early April, asking for a meeting to discuss ‘internal issues’ that could ‘destabilise’ the South African Police Service (Saps) and affect the KZN police commissioner’s family.
“This situation is escalating. It has the potential of demoralising our hard-working members and there are even politicians that are using these social media posts to sow divisions within Saps.”
“I do not like what’s happening; hence, I feel the minister must call us into a meeting so we can iron out everything that is dominating the media space,” Mkhwanazi wrote.
The commissioner asked that Mchunu’s Chief of Staff Cedric Nkabinde, National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola, suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya, Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo, the head of Counter and Security Intelligence Feroz Khan and North West businessman Brown Mogotsi attend the meeting.
Mchunu responded, telling Mkhwanazi that he would revert back to him, but never did.
“I couldn’t convene a meeting like that where I invite Brown Mogotsi, who is outside the organisation,” Mchunu said on why he did not get back to Mkhwanazi at a later stage.
He added that he wanted a private meeting with Mkhwanazi to understand the situation better.
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu. (Pic: The Witness)