Overview

• Testifying at the Madlanga Commission, National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola called Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s 31 December 2024 directive to disband the PKTT an unlawful encroachment on operational command after it ordered the team to dissolve “now, now, now.”
• Masemola defended the PKTT’s record, saying that since June 2018 it handled 612 dockets with 297 finalised, 125 still under investigation, 114 before courts, and 10 pending a DPP decision.
• He said he was on approved leave when the letter was issued, learned of it via WhatsApp on 2 January, and later told President Cyril Ramaphosa on 1 February; the president said he would speak to the minister.
• Pressed by the chair on apparent contradictions, Masemola said he complied only with producing a report to avoid insubordination, sought a phased approach rather than an abrupt shutdown, and maintained the PKTT was never actually disbanded.
• He is due back on Tuesday for further questioning, and he told the inquiry a concerned party claimed Deputy Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya is close to businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, a contention he presented as unconfirmed as the commission tests wider interference allegations.