By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider 

The suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner, Shadrack Sibiya had begun his testimony this week discussing his criticism of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), arguing that the focus on the murder of politicians was unnecessary, highlighting that the rate at which they were being murdered was not necessary for the Task Team to be ongoing.

“I have murder and robbery unit everywhere in the country. We also have a murder and robbery unit in Kwa-Zulu Natal but we also have a duplicate unit that runs on its own when we have murder and robbery unit” said Sibiya. 

Sibiya expressed that there were 60 politically motivated killings that the Task Team were investigating out of an array of different crimes being committed that they were investigating altogether.  

“It does not necessarily mean that when a child of a councillor was killed in a shebeen is a political case, but it will be classified as something like that” Sibiya added. 

He added that the PKTT at some point were investigating just plain murders as opposed to politically motivated ones. “Now you have to investigate everything when in fact there are units,” said Sibiya. 

He affirmed that the PKTT was “not a good idea” because when police officers are deployed to task teams that certain dockets may be left unattended or overloaded as they will have to be delegated to different officers. 

Sibiya also expressed that he was not shocked when suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu had announced the disbandment of the PKTT on December 31, 2024.

 “From where I am sitting the capacity in KZN does not exist in Cape Town where I am sitting with gang violence, where people are dying every day,” said Sibiya.

 Sibiya also said that he was following orders regarding the disbandment from the SAPS National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola.

 “The sentiment that says you are the senior manager you should have applied your mind does not work.” said Sibiya