The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry will turn its attention to the legal foundations of the South African Police Service (SAPS) today as an official from the service’s legal division takes the stand. This testimony is poised to provide critical context for the controversial decision to disband the KwaZulu-Natal Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).
The legal expert, the commission’s third witness, follows high-profile testimonies from National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola and KZN Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkwanazi. Their appearances centered on the internal conflict surrounding Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s directive to shut down the specialized unit.
Today’s witness is expected to meticulously unpack the legislative framework that governs SAPS operations. A key focus will be the legalities surrounding Minister Mchunu’s instruction to disband the PKTT, a move that National Commissioner Masemola previously testified surprised President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Furthermore, the testimony is likely to address the legal justification for the suspension of Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya. Masemola alleged that Sibiya improperly ordered 121 dockets from the PKTT to be transferred to his Pretoria office, an act Masemola characterized as unauthorized interference potentially aimed at protecting criminal cartels in Gauteng.
Sitting at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College in Pretoria, the commission will hear this crucial evidence before calling another new witness on Friday, as it continues to investigate the dissolution of the high-stakes investigative unit.
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