Cachalia backs Political Killings Task Team in tackling organised crime

THE Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) that Senzo Mchunu controversially disbanded has received the backing of acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia who could not understand the reasons it was discontinued.

- MAYIBONGWE MAQHINA

Testifying at the parliamentary inquiry probing allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, Cachalia said National Commissioner Fannie Masemola had submitted a report in mid-August at his request when he was enquiring whether the PKTT was disbanded.

"In that report, he made a recommendation essentially recommending that, in his view, the task team that has been established should continue to exist and that similar capacity needed to be developed, and he was in the process of doing so in Gauteng," he said.

Cachalia expressed conceren about the assassination of whistle-blowers and councillors after Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi reported to him the killing of two ANC councillors in Soweto.

"My perspective then, by this point, was the following: I could not understand what the reasons were for the disbandment of the task team.