Ramaphosa mum as more mud flies in police scandal

As accusations and denials continue to fly around over the police scandal ignited over the weekend by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, President Cyril Ramaphosa has still said nothing.

- Jarryd Westerdale & Itumeleng Mafisa

Yesterday, national police commissioner General Fannie Masemola declared that no official order to disband the KwaZulu-Natal political killings task team had been authorised by him, despite Mkhwanazi's assertions that this was the case.

Asked if Mkhwanazi's briefing was sanctioned by senior officials, or if he faced any disciplinary action, Masemola had no objections.

"He won't be persecuted from my side [and] there will be no persecution of any member of the South African Police Service."

But Masemola confirmed Mkhwanazi had received death threats and that his security detail had been "beefed up".

The standoff between Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and Mkhwanazi has remained static —and Masemola was reluctant to speak on the allegations against Mchunu and deputy police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya.

He said he would leave the matter to Ramaphosa, explaining it would not be useful for him to add to the public statements between the senior officials.