Ramaphosa ‘upset’ over police dockets’ return

Move by national police commissioner to return 121 dockets to KZN task team under scrutiny

- SIMON MAJADIBODU [e-mail]

WHILE political parties and the general public have welcomed national police commissioner General Fannie Masemola’s decision to return 121 investigation dockets to KwaZulu-Natal detectives, President Cyril Ramaphosa is reportedly angry over the move.

The dockets, central to allegations of political interference made by KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, were initially removed from the province and have now been returned to allow the local investigative team to resume its work.

In July, Mkhwanazi accused the now-suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu of interfering in police operations, including ordering the disbandment of the high-profile Political Killings Task Team and the removal of the 121 dockets.

He also alleged that Mchunu was protecting individuals implicated in politically motivated crimes. According to a City Press report, Ramaphosa was upset about Masemola’s decision.

He wanted to know why the dockets were taken from the office of suspended deputy police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya to begin with.

Ramaphosa reportedly contacted acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia to voice concerns about the timing of Masemola’s actions, especially with a judicial commission of inquiry set to investigate the matter.

Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said President Ramaphosa spoke to Acting Police Minister Cachalia about the matter. He explained that while the return of the dockets might look like a simple administrative move, it's actually central to what the commission is set up to investigate.