MCHUNU IMPLICATED IN CRIMINAL SYNDICATE

Allegations of corruption shake South African police as political killings task team disbanded

- GCWALISILE KHANYILE

THE disbandment of the political killings task team without informing the national police commissioner, Fannie Masemola, was influenced by the sterling work that they performed in Gauteng to uncover the criminal syndicate that involves some members of the criminal justice system operating in that province.

This is according to KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi when making damning allegations against his colleagues and politicians, including Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, whom he alleged were part of serious crime cartels in Gauteng.

In a statement, Mchunu rejected Mkhwanazi's “wild allegations and claims on a variety of issues”.

“The Minister of Police will never allow his integrity, that of the Ministry or the SAPS at large, to be undermined by insinuations made without evidence or due processes, from anyone, including Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi.

“We will be reviewing the Provincial Commissioner's statements and consider appropriate action.

“All these statements made by him in public require an urgent, thorough, and transparent investigation, on a proper platform,” Mchunu said.

Mkhwanazi questioned Mchunu’s decision to disband the political killings task team without informing Masemola, and himself as the provincial police commissioner.

The task team, established in 2018, was a multidisciplinary unit focusing on politically motivated killings and related crimes in KwaZulu-Natal.

“The team has been investigating a total of 612 dockets. These cases include murder, attempted murder, intimidation, conspiracy to commit murder, and other cases.