Mapaballo Borotho
- Justice Madlanga questioned Minister Senzo Mchunu over his sudden order to disband the Political Killings Task Team.
- Mchunu argued he acted within his powers, while Madlanga criticised him for failing to consult Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola.
- The Minister continues his testimony on Friday.
The corruption-implicated Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu, found himself in the hot seat on Thursday at the Madlanga Commission as he was pressed to explain why he was seemingly in a hurry to dissolve the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).
Mchunu was being cross-examined by Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga over the order set out in a letter last year to dissolve the PKTT.
This after Mchunu told the Commissioners that he met with Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola twice in November to discuss general policing matters, including a review of the Task Team, but the pair never directly discussed his intention to disband it.
The Minister claims his order left room for further discussion in a follow-up report, but Madlanga questioned why he never mentioned the directive beforehand.
“I wouldn’t necessarily say I was in a rush, it merely was an exercise of the power to issue a directive which I could use and then have a discussion. I didn’t see anything wrong,” Mchunu said.
Madlanga responded by noting that ministers do not issue directives for directives’ sake.
He further criticised Mchunu for failing to consult with National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola before disbanding the Task Team.
“So you think now and you act quickly within three days on an issue that is that important with all of these implications. I would, as I said, at the latest, you should have mentioned this to the National Commissioner Fannie Masemola at Mpangeni,” Madlanga said.
Mchunu cited budget concerns and complaints about the team’s operations, but Madlanga insisted he should have raised these issues when they met at a funeral on 28 December.
Mchunu continues with his testimony on Friday.
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