Minister of Police placed on special leave, Senzo Mchunu, has distanced himself to how his letter of directives to disband the political killings task team landed in controversial businessman Brown Mogotsi’s possession.
The letter issued an immediate directive that the political killings task team should be disbanded. This amongst two other aspects which he considered were urgent.
“My observation in this regard as indicated above is that further existence of this team is no longer required, nor is it adding any value to policing in South Africa. I therefore direct that the political killings task team be de-established immediately.
“Further that a preliminary report in this regard be submitted to the Minister by the 20th of January. The final and closing report must be submitted to the Ministry Management Executive Committee Meeting late January 2025,” reads the letter in part.
Letter only sent to a few people
Mchunu told the Ad Hoc committee investigating allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi that he only knows that the December 31, 2024 letter was sent to the few people he had instructed.
He said he had instructed his chief of staff Cedrick Nkabinde to send the letter to South African Police Service (SAPS) National Commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola and Lt-Gen Tebello Mosikili, who was acting in the position while Masemola was on leave.
However, he said he was notified that the letter was also sent personal assistants of the generals.
“In order to come to the bottom of this, it will have to be Mogotsi himself to explain how he got hold of this. What he meant by this meeting and so on. On my part, I wasn’t expecting that he would get hold of my letter. Unless it had gone viral on social media or leaked to social media. As it seems to have been the case.
“It is him who must explain how he got hold of it. But it concerns me. And there was never any meeting that took place in any case, as along those lines,” said Mchunu.
Colluded with criminal syndicates
Mchunu has been accused of colluding with alleged criminals who have infiltrated the police to illegally disband the political killings task team.
This as Mogotsi was found to have had the letter. He had forwarded it to attempted murder-accused and alleged Big Five syndicate leader Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. Matlala also allegedly funded Mchunu’s supporters for the ANC January 8 celebrations.
This was revealed by suspended crime intelligence boss Dumisani Khumalo at the Madlanga Commission. It was in WhatsApp message exchanges between Mogotsi and Matlala, which were retrieved from Matlala’s phone during his arrest.
“If indeed Matlala received this letter from Mogotsi it would mean it happened that way. And that concerns me as well [as to] what it was sent for. Because it was never meant for Matlala or any other person that he may have sent the letter to,” said Mchunu.
He also claimed that sending the letter out on new year’s eve was not sinister. This considering that the police work was continuing despite Masemola being on leave.
Mchunu had previously denied to parliament that he knew Mogotsi. He, however admitted to knowing him at the Ad Hoc committee.
