Senzo Mchunu Cites Cape Flats Violence as One Reason for Disbanding Political Killings Task Team
- Senzo Mchunu discussed the Cape Flats during his appearance before Parliament's Ad Hoc Committee
- The Minister of Police was discussing why he made the decision to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT)
- Mchunu explained that the PKTT operated in one corner of the country when there were killings in other corners as well
Source: Getty Images
Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.
WESTERN CAPE – Senzo Mchunu has listed the violence on the Cape Flats as one of the reasons he chose to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).
The Minister of Police has been testifying before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee, which is probing allegations of corruption and political interference within the country’s criminal justice system.
Mchunu is alleged to have disbanded the PKTT to shield cartels operating in the country and protect people like Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi made the allegations during an explosive press briefing on 6 July 2025.
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Police Minister Senzo Mchunu concerned by Brown Mogotsi’s access to PKTT disbandment letter
Mchunu discusses the Cape Flats during testimony
While delivering testimony during his first day in front of the committee on 16 October 2025, Mchunu discussed one of the reasons why he chose to disband the PKTT. He said that, as police minister, he had to consider the most effective way to allocate resources.
“Now if you keep on funding one unit somewhere in one corner of the country, even if they do well, they are not going to deal with criminality on the Cape Flats,” he said.
He continued that every time there was a death on the Cape Flats, he was asked as minister what was being done about it.
“You can’t say I have the Political Killings Task Team, which is happening in one corner, and killings are happening in other corners,” Mchunu stated.
He added that the South African Police Service (SAPS) did not have good capacity on the combat side, which is why the problems persisted on the Cape Flat, because police didn’t have the machinery to fight the gangs.
Minister claims he was losing sleep over crime rate
Mchunu added that he often woke up in the middle of the night because of the high crime rate. He said that this constant worry and questions about what he was doing about it led him to take action.
He added that the police could not have a unit that just focused on the killings of amakhosi and councillors when children were being shot dead on the Cape Flats.
Other stories about Mchunu at the Ad Hoc Committee
Briefly News reported that Mchunu has made a few strong remarks during his testimony before Parliament.
- Mchunu claimed that the PKTT was never a part of the South African Police Service's organogram.
- The police minister said he was concerned that Brown Mogotsi had access to information about the disbandment.
- Mchunu was trolled by David Skosana after he stated that he was haunted by Mkhwanazi since 6 July 2025.
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Source: Briefly News
