Police Minister Firoz Cachalia Unhappy That 121 Dockets Returned to the Political Killings Task Team

• The Acting Minister of Police, Professor Firoz Cachalia, slammed the Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola's decision regarding the Political Killings Task Team
• Masemola said that the 121 dockets, which were removed from the Task Team, have been returned, and a Gauteng unit will be established
• He said that the dockets were crucial to the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, and South Africans were not happy with his reaction

Tebogo Mokwena, a Briefly News current affairs journalist based in Johannesburg, South Africa, covered a range of criminal activities, including cash-in-transit heists, kidnappings, taxi violence, police investigations, police shootouts, and court cases at Daily Sun for over three years.

CAPE TOWN, WESTERN CAPE — The Acting Police Minister, Professor Firoz Cachalia, responded on 29 August 2025 to the National Commissioner Fannie Masemola's decision to return the 121 dockets taken from the Political Killings Task Team in KwaZulu-Natal.

Cachalia's response came a day after Masemola spoke on the sidelines of the 27th Interpol Regional Conference, which was held in Cape Town, Western Cape. Masemola said that although he was not expecting any arrests, he said that the Task Team must be left to do its job.

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What did Firoz Cachalia say?

Cachalia said that he was worried that the dockets were returned to the Politial killings Task Team before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry could investigate the issues surrounding the Team.

He says that the Political Killings Task Team is at the centre of the allegations made by the Provincial Commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Cachalia said that he had requested a report from Masemola about the Political Killings Task Team, and he has yet to receive it.

What do we know about the Task Team?

On 6 July, Mkhwanazi held a press briefing in Durban. KwaZulu-Natal and accused suspended police minister Sdenzo Mchunu and suspended Deputy National commisioner Shadrack Sibiya of interfering with the Political Killings Task Team. This was after Sibiya wrote a letter ordering that the Task Team be disbanded. He also ordered that the 121 dockets be placed on his desk.

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EFF claims Minister Cachalia's actions delay justice in political killings investigation

What did South Africans say?

Netizens commenting on Facebook were not happy with what Cachalia said.

Kevin Mills said:

"They're concerned they might be exposed because whoever Ramasofa appoints has a finger in the pie."

Sakkie Harmse said:

"Someone's mission going south? Those dockets were supposed to disappear."

Likhanye Kushinda Ngudle asked:

"So everything must come to a standstill and wait for the commission? What if it takes five years?"

George Mkhwanazi said:

"He never said anything about the dockets until they were returned, where they were taken from the Madlanga Commission will find them in KZN if they need them."

Moreshka Lebona said:

"I am now more than convinced General Mkhwanazi was telling the truth."

Political Killings Task Team makes arrests

In a related article, Briefly News reported that the Political Killings Task Team arrested the former municipal manager of the Umzimkhulu Local Municipality for his alleged role in the murder of former African National Congress Youth League's Secretary-General Sindiso Magaqa.

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SA concerned over National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola’s controversial docket decision

Magaqa was gunned down in 2022 in Umzimkhulu as he was reportedly preparing to open a case of corruption in the municipality.

Source: Briefly News