Fannie Masemola’s Contradictory Statements Baffle Madlanga Commission of Inquiry

• General Fannie Masemola reportedly confused the commissioners of the Madlanga commission of inquiry
• This was after he was testifying about the disbandment of the Political Killing Task Team, which suspended Minister of police, Senzo Mchunu, ordered
• The commissioners quizzed him about the apparent contradictions in his testimony, and South Africans defended him

With 10 years’ experience, Tebogo Mokwena, Briefly News’ Deputy Head of the Current Affairs desk, South Africa, provided insights into the criminal justice system, crime statistics, commissions of inquiry, and high-profile cases in South Africa at Daily Sun.

PRETORIA, GAUTENG — National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola's testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry was placed under the microscope. This was after he testified about the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) on 22 September 2025.

Masemola testified at the Commission of Inquiry's public hearings held at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College in Tshwane, Gauteng. Masemola had been testifying about the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team.

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Fannie Masemola says Senzo Mchunu saw political killings as 'just murders', South Africans furious

Masemola's testimony under fire

Masemola earlier testified that he would not comply with an instruction from suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu if he believed that it was unlawful. This included the directive to disband the PKTT. However, he later said that he complied with Mchunu's order for a progress report on the team's disbandment.

Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga was reportedly confused by Masemola's stance. He asked him why he deemed Mchunu's directive as unlawful, but complied with the order to provide a progress report.

What you need to know about Masemola's testimony

• Masemola's response to the question of whether he would disobey a directive from Mchunu if it were unlawful caused debate on social media
• The National Commissioner was unhappy that Mchunu ordered the PKTT's disbandment and accused him of encroaching on his duties
• Masemola also said that councillors organised their own hits so that the state could allocate more security to them
• Masemola also praised the Political Killings Task Team's ability to solve crime and make arrests
• Masemola highlighted the depth of the attempted murder-accused Vusimuzi Matlala's relationship with suspended Deputy National Commissioner General Shadrack Sibiya

Read also

Fannie Masemola says Cyril Ramaphosa agreed to the Political Killings Task Team's disbandment

South Africans react

Netizens commenting on X defended Masemola.

Tendai Hove said:

"There were no contradictions, just English bundles running out. They should have let him speak in his mother tongue."

Nokhetshe said:

"There were no contradictions, but they were seeking clarity. Stop this nonsense."

Analysis OfSA said:

"Like it or not, funding for the PKTT comes from the national, so no funding, no task team. He was strong-armed and he reported to Cyril, and as the ANC does best, he was ignored."

Julius Malema roasting Masemola clip resurfaces

In a related article, Briefly News reported that a clip of the Economic Freedom Fighters President Julius Malema roasting Masemola resurfaced. The video was taken in 2021,

Tbe tbhe clip, Malema joked that Masemola could not write an email. The video resurfaced in the midst of Masemola's testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.

Source: Briefly News