PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa was made aware of the disbanding of the political killings task team (PKTT).
That’s the testimony by National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola, who wrapped up his appearance at the Madlanga Commission, on Tuesday.
Masemola also cited he was caught by the surprise of Police Minister Senzo Mchunu that the PKTT be disbanded ‘abruptly’.
The purpose of the Task Team was to investigate political killings in KwaZulu-Natal, amongst others.
But thanks to KZN Police Commissioner Lt General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who had to swallow his pride and explosively reveal that criminals have infiltrated the country’s justice system, police were compromised and criminals were ‘sleeping in bed’ with high ranking officials in Gvt and Police, and major metros in Gauteng were also infiltrated.
Commissioner Mkhwanazi claimed that the KZN political killings task team (PKTT), which was assisting Gauteng detectives, unmasked a well-connected criminal syndicate, and mentioned attempted murder accused tenderpreneur Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala at the centre of the network, saying the task team had been investigating him in Gauteng.
According to National Police Commissioner, the team’s dockets were also removed and taken to Pretoria by suspended Deputy Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya, which was unheard of.
The same Sibiya also had a questionable appointment as head of City’s -Group Forensic and Investigation Services (GFIS).
National Commissioner Masemola testified that those who wanted the dockets removed were looking for something.
“The real purpose of these dockets coming to Pretoria was actually to audit and find the dockets of Gauteng, the Gauteng crime intelligence operation. That is the dockets of Armand Swart, the dockets of CAT. That was the objective at the end of the day, the calling of the dockets from KZN to here (Gauteng) was motivated by the 10 members of PKTT that came from KwaZulu-Natal to Gauteng.”
Last week, during his testimony Lt Mkhwanazi informed the commission that the dockets related to the syndicate were being held by Gauteng detectives.
National Commissioner, testified that those behind the removal of the dockets did not know about this.
“Remember, the people who were doing this were not aware; they just presumed that because they are members of the KZN PKTT who came to Gauteng, it means they’re the ones behind the Gauteng project. So if you disband them, then the investigation in Gauteng will collapse,” he testified.
I can also confirm both Matlala and NW businessman Brian Mogotsi know each other, said Masemola.
This plot thickens as more witnesses are expected to testify, including those behind the camera, and according to the spokesperson for the Madlanga Commission, Jeremy Michaels they’ve been approached by some witnesses to give testimony, without giving out names.
The commission resumes on Thursday morning in Pretoria.
Image (National Police Commissioner- Fannie Masemola recorded at the Madlanga Commission).
