Lieutenant-General Khumalo exposes misinformation campaign targeting the Political Killings Task Team

The Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) and its leader, Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo, faced backlash from certain media outlets that allegedly spread misinformation to discredit the team's work. 

Khumalo testified at the Madlanga Judicial Commission of Inquiry that the development followed Police Minister Senzo Mchunu's December 31, 2024, letter instructing the disbandment of the task team.

In the letter, Mchunu cited the task team’s ineffectiveness in adding value to policing in South Africa.

Khumalo testified at the commission on Tuesday, discussing the WhatsApp conversations between Mchunu's alleged associate Brown Mogotsi and businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. 

The messages revealed a close relationship between the two businessmen, with Mogotsi regularly seeking financial favours from Matlala, including funding for ANC activities. 

Khumalo pointed out that Matlala sent Mogotsi a screenshot of a 'City Press' article titled “A lone robber walks out of the crime intelligence unit with R1.3 million in a bag” on January 12, 2025. 

He stated that the police investigation into the alleged robbery at the Crime Intelligence unit found it to be “staged”.

As a result, disciplinary actions were taken against the officers involved. A captain faced criminal charges, while other officers were subjected to departmental charges.

Khumalo emphasised that the matter is currently before the court, reiterating that the investigation concluded it was not a genuine robbery.

'City Press' has not responded to a request for a comment on Khumalo's claims that they published a story about a staged robbery at the Crime Intelligence office in East London.

Khumalo said: “The alleged robbery took place after I had assigned personnel from my office to go and do a surprise visit to Gauteng province in our cash offices, where they found lots of contraventions of policies. There were cases that were registered.” 

He stated that after the successful surprise inspection in Gauteng, he assembled the team to plan simultaneous inspections in the remaining eight provinces.

“It might look like that plan leaked because on the same day of that surprise inspection, that is when this fake robbery was then reported,” he said.

Khumalo further cited a social media article from an unidentified source shared by Matlala with Mogotsi on February 2, 2025, saying it was part of a larger misinformation campaign.

He said the story in question reportedly revolves around a departmental case against Major General Firoz Khan from the Crime Intelligence division. 

According to Khumalo, the article alleges that witnesses in this case deliberately altered their affidavits in exchange for promotions.

“The story is alleging that the chairperson of that departmental case, which was the provincial commissioner of KZN Lieutenant-General (Nhlanhla) Mkhwanazi, approached the witnesses to change their statements to ensure that the findings during that hearing would be against Major General Khan,” he said.

He said the disciplinary hearing in question took place around early February, but the outcome did not align with what the article suggested. Khan was cleared of all wrongdoing.

“That was another news or misinformation that was circulating on both print and social media,” Khumalo said.

According to him, the misinformation started on December 31, 2024, after the letter was penned by Mchunu ordering the disbandment of the task team.

Khumalo claimed that certain articles aimed to spread misinformation by inevitably mentioning him, General Mkhwanazi, and the political task team, even if their involvement is irrelevant to the story.

He testified that Mogotsi sent Matlala a social media article titled “NPA 'ID' guns for national police 'rogue unit'”, which Khumalo believes spreads misinformation by referring to the PKTT as a rogue unit. 

The article claimed the National Prosecuting Authority's Investigating Directorate (ID) raided  Khumalo's office and National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola's office, serving them with arrest notices. 

However, Khumalo disputed this account, stating that he was arrested without notice. He believes this discrepancy is an attempt to spread misinformation. 

He said: “It is on record and on public record that I was never served notice of arrest, but I was arrested.”

Khumalo and six other high-ranking police officials were arrested in June at OR Tambo International Airport on allegations of fraud and corruption. 

Mkhwanazi claimed Khumalo's arrest was strategic, aiming to disrupt investigations into powerful drug cartels and organised crime syndicates. 

The commission was expected to resume on Wednesday, but it was adjourned due to Khumalo’s sudden illness.

SAPS spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said Khumalo is receiving top-notch medical attention. 

“The General felt unwell after arriving at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College, where he was due to continue with his testimony. General (Fannie) Masemola is in contact with the senior officer and confirms that he is in good spirits and taking health advice from his physician,” she said. 

She added that Khumalo’s health is receiving priority and the Madlanga Commission will be kept abreast of all developments pertaining to his condition as well as when he will be available to continue with his testimony. 

rapula.moatshe@inl.co.za