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Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has strongly criticised National Commissioner ’s decision to return 121 dockets on political killings to the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Political Killings Task Team before the judicial commission of inquiry begins its work.
Masemola issued a directive that the seized case files be handed back, sparking tensions within SAPS. The matter stems from allegations made by KZN commissioner General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who claimed that the dockets were removed from the task team by Deputy Police Commissioner for Crime Detection, Shadrack Sibiya.
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Sibiya was subsequently suspended pending the outcome of the inquiry led by retired Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga.
Allegations of Interference
According to Mkhwanazi, the 121 dockets were removed due to interference by then Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and Sibiya.
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In a statement, Cachalia said he had requested a full report from Masemola on the Task Team soon after his appointment — but is still waiting for the information.
“I recognise that the allegations made in relation to the Political Killings Task Team are of immense public interest. The Task Team is at the centre of the allegations made by the Provincial Commissioner and will be dealt with by the Commission,” said Cachalia.
“It is a concern therefore that steps are being taken in relation to this matter before the Commission has had a chance to investigate the issues surrounding the Task Team. I have requested the National Commissioner to submit his report without further delay.”
Inquiry Faces Delays
Masemola also revealed that SAPS will be opening a Gauteng-based unit of the political killings task team in the next four weeks to address unresolved political and taxi-related murders.
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“We have a number of unresolved cases in Gauteng that are murders of politicians and also taxi-related [murders] that are quite complex,” he said.
The inquiry, initially tasked with delivering an interim report within three months and a final report within six months, has already been postponed. A new start date will only be announced once infrastructure and logistical requirements are in place.
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