In a revealing parliamentary testimony, Deputy Minister Polly Boshielo details how she discovered her boss, suspended minister Senzo Mchunu, had secretly ordered the dissolution of a key task team.
CAPE TOWN – A stark rift within the top leadership of the South African Police Service (SAPS) was exposed in Parliament on Tuesday, as Deputy Police Minister Polly Boshielo revealed her profound disappointment after her superior, suspended Minister Senzo Mchunu, disbanded a critical unit without her knowledge.
Boshielo testified before the ad hoc committee investigating corruption in the criminal justice system, detailing how she first learned of the directive to dismantle the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) not from her minister, but from social media.
The controversial letter, dated December 31 and addressed to National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, ordered the immediate disestablishment of the PKTT. Boshielo said she initially believed the document circulating online was fake.
“That was until I received a call from Minister Mchunu in January, telling me the letter was real and was written by him,” Boshielo told the committee.
Her testimony revealed a deep sense of personal and professional letdown. “I was disappointed because I thought we were working together,” she stated plainly.
While acknowledging that Mchunu, as the executive authority, had the power to issue such a directive, Boshielo argued for a more collaborative approach. “Before he could take out the letter… I thought he could’ve discussed it with us,” she said, highlighting a clear breakdown in their working relationship.
“There should be due processes because the two offices, the accounting officer and the executive authority, should be able to work together and agree on processes to move forward,” Boshielo explained. “Yes, the minister might have executive powers to give direction, but the person who’s going to implement it is the accounting officer. They should be able to find common ground.”
This testimony directly contrasts with Mchunu’s earlier defence before the same committee, where he insisted he was well within his constitutional rights. He had justified the disbandment, citing budget constraints and a need to reallocate resources from focusing on political killings “in one corner of the country” to other national crimes.
Boshielo attributed the incident to a difference in leadership style, lamenting her lost opportunity to contribute. “If he had sought input from me as the deputy minister, I would have done so. It was no use for me to even ask for input because the letter was already out. I didn’t have an opportunity to do that.”
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