The Ad Hoc Committee to Investigate Allegations made by the South African Police Service’s KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, today concluded two and a half days of evidence from the Minister of Police, Mr Senzo Mchunu.
During his appearance, Minister Mchunu defended his decision to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) in KwaZulu-Natal, informing the committee that he had the approval of President Cyril Ramaphosa to proceed with the decision. Minister Mchunu stated that he had briefed President Ramaphosa on his intention to dissolve the task team and that the President had supported his reasoning.
When questioned last week about whether the President had agreed to the disbandment, Minister Mchunu replied: “The answer in the affidavit is that I briefed the President, and he agreed with the briefing I gave him.”
He explained that the briefing to the President was intended to pre-empt rising political tensions related to the task team. “I told him these matters, among others, led me to disband the political task team. If I had not acted then, there might have been calls for a commission of inquiry on those matters. So, I decided to pre-empt such a call,” he said.
The Minister also addressed questions regarding his relationship with Mr Brown Mogotsi, a controversial figure from the North-West province. Minister Mchunu told the committee that he only knows Mr Mogotsi as a “comrade” and reiterated that he did not lie when he previously appeared before Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police in March.
Evidence Leader Advocate Norman Arendse (SC) questioned the Minister on statements in his affidavit warning against assumptions made by those claiming to know him. Minister Mchunu clarified the distinction between being an “associate” and a “comrade.” “What complicated matters, in my view, is that when General Mkhwanazi made his statement on 6 July, he told the public something twisted. He said Minister Mchunu claimed not to know Brown Mogotsi in Parliament, which I never said,” he told the committee.
Minister Mchunu explained that he has known Mr Mogotsi since 2017 but does not have a personal relationship with him.
“In that time, I have never asked him whether he is married, I’ve never visited his home, I’ve never gone to a soccer match or restaurant with him, and I’ve never inquired about his personal life. We only speak occasionally about general matters,” he said.
The committee also heard that Minister Mchunu had advised his Chief of Staff, Mr Cedrick Nkabinde, to record conversations with Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi after detecting what he described as “threats of retaliation” related to the disbandment of the PKTT.
He elaborated that an alleged WhatsApp voice recording between Mr Nkabinde and Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi contained threats that the Commissioner would “fight back”, which raised concerns for his safety. The specific wording, however, could not be clearly heard in the audio played before the committee.
Minister Mchunu maintained that he was of “sober mind” when he issued the directive to disband the task team. Advocate Arendse questioned him on the timing of the letter, which was signed on the final day of last year while National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola was on leave.
The oral hearings continue today, with members of the committee now afforded the opportunity to engage directly with Minister Mchunu.
Rajaa Azzakani
21 October 2025
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