“I don’t know what was going through his mind when he wrote it”

Deputy Police Minister Cassel Mathale has dismissed claims that the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) was irregularly constituted, saying its formation followed proper legal and administrative processes. Testifying before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee investigating alleged corruption and political interference in the South African Police Service (SAPS), Mathale directly contradicted his senior, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who disbanded the task team earlier this year.

“The PKTT is not irregularly constituted,” Mathale told lawmakers, defending the integrity of the specialised unit that was created to tackle politically motivated killings in KwaZulu-Natal. “I don’t know what was going through Minister Mchunu’s mind when he wrote that letter,” he added, referring to Mchunu’s directive that dissolved the task team — a move that has since drawn heavy criticism from political parties, civil society, and security experts.

Mchunu has previously argued that the PKTT’s structure and reporting lines were “legally flawed,” a justification that Mathale’s testimony appears to undermine. The deputy minister’s remarks highlight growing tensions within the Police Ministry, as top officials continue to provide conflicting accounts of the task team’s legitimacy and effectiveness.

The disbandment of the PKTT has become a flashpoint in the ongoing parliamentary probe, with many viewing it as a potential setback in the fight against political assassinations, especially in KwaZulu-Natal — a province long plagued by factional violence.

As hearings continue, lawmakers are expected to press for clarity on whether Mchunu acted within his authority and whether the task team could be reinstated.

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