Mkhwanazi begins testimony, rejects view that PKTT was a political initiative

KWAZULU-NATAL police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, yesterday dismissed a suggestion that the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) was a political initiative and that the decision to disband it was a lawful political decision.

- MAYIBONGWE MAQHINA

Replying during his testimony on the first day of the parliamentary inquiry into allegations on security matters, Mkhwanazi said such an argument “won't stand”, The parliamentary inquiry is separate to the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry that is investigating the allegations brought forward by Mkhwanazi and others.

“I will say they are wrong because a Minister of Police is not a member of a political party. The Minister of Police is an executive member that is appointed in terms of the law of the Republic (and) is a cabinet member responsible for policing,” he said.

“I don't think the legislature cares as to which political party the member belongs to. To say it was a political decision, what if the minister is not a politician. I don't think that argument will stand? Mkhwanazi said.

He was responding to chief evidence leader Norman Arendse who said it could be argued by “some implicated” that the PKTT was a political initiative and its dissolution was a political decision that was entirely lawful.

Mkhwanazi explained that the PKTT was formed after President Cyril Ramaphosa visited the house of an ANC member Musawenkosi Mchunu, who was killed in Pietermaritzburg in May 2018.