By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider
Suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu had appeared before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry for the first since Tuesday, in order to speak his truth regarding the explosive allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi in July this year.
The suspended Police Minister has expressed that he is not at all corrupt and rejects the allegations made by the Provincial Police Commissioner as this is the stance he decided to take within his first remarks of his testimony.
“I have never been accused of corruption, not once…this is the first time I get accused of such, as alleged particularly on July 6” said Senzo Mchunu in his testimony.
Mkhwanazi made public allegations that the suspended Police Minister’s decision to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) is because the team was close to uncovering evidence linking him to criminal syndicates as well as to protect crime lords Katiso “KT” Molefe and Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
The PKTT was closing in on both suspects on 6 December 2024, which required the intervention of the now suspended police minister. “Government projects are time-bound, they don’t run indefinitely” said Mchunu, who also expressed that his decision was a cost effective decision as there were other units that needed financing.
Mchunu emphasised that the disbandment was expected to occur regardless. “Beyond 2022, there was no further extension that was sought. As a result, the NPKTT continued to operate without required assessment and renewal for more than two years.
During this period beyond 2022, NPKTT was irregular under the Public Finance Management Act” expressed Mchunu. “Any interference would suggest that I played a role in authorising and coordinating operational decisions, including who to arrest and where and when to do raids, technical deployments, who goes where for what reason, such suggestions are incorrect.”
Mchunu emphasised before the commission. Mchunu is expected to deliver further testimony before the commission today.