Overview

• Fannie Masemola confirmed a 31 December 2024 letter from then minister Senzo Mchunu directing the team’s immediate dissolution, called it a total encroachment on his operational mandate, and said he learned of it on 2 January via a WhatsApp from his office.
• He rejected Mchunu’s claim that the task team was ineffective, highlighting breakthroughs including interventions at Fort Hare and other provinces, and questioned who, if anyone, properly briefed the minister.
• Masemola testified that he met President Cyril Ramaphosa on 1 February to raise concerns about the directive; the president said he would speak to Mchunu, but Masemola was not told the outcome.
• He told the commission the unit will continue handling its dockets and that SAPS is managing a wind‑down to protect ongoing investigations and court cases, including auditing and reallocating files with the NPA’s dedicated prosecutors.
• Masemola said Mchunu became angry after the team linked suspects to a councillor’s murder and a 27 March meeting ended abruptly, and he faced questioning over why he partly complied with an order he deems unlawful as his testimony resumes.