Madlanga Commission reveals disbandment of PKTT was a case of mistaken identity

Explosive testimony delivered before the Madlanga Commission has revealed that the Political Killings Task Team’s (PKTT) disbandment instruction and the recall of 121 dockets under investigation and in court were allegedly a case of mistaken identity.

Divisional Commissioner for Crime Intelligence, Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo, told the commission that when the cases about the December 06, 2024, operations were not found in the PKTT, the focus shifted.

Suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu had, on December 31, 2024, written a letter to disband the PKTT immediately.

This was followed by an instruction from suspended Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection, Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya, to recall all case dockets under the PKTT.

The operations of December 06, 2024, were the arrest of murder-accused businessman Katiso ‘KT’ Molefe and the search and seizure at the home of attempted murder-accused tenderpreneur, Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala.

Khumalo said that after Molefe and Matlala’s dockets were not found among the 121 from the PKTT, the Gauteng Counter-Intelligence operations (GCI ops) became the new target.

He said there were multiple efforts directed at the GCI ops, including an attempt to take away investigation dockets linked to Molefe.

Acting Sedibeng District Commissioner, Brigadier Mbangwa Nkhwashu, allegedly attempted to retrieve dockets linked to Molefe from the detectives so that they could be handed over to him, but he was unsuccessful.

“On the 16th of April 2025, Brigadier Nkhwashu made an attempt to retrieve the criminal dockets pertaining to the case in which Mr Katiso Molefe was charged during December 2024. According to Brigadier Nkhwashu, this action was taken following a direct instruction from the (Gauteng) provincial commissioner (Lieutenant-General Tommy Mthombeni), who allegedly mandated that the dockets must be handed over immediately,” Khumalo said. 

He added that, “the brigadier further stated that failure to comply with this instruction would result in disciplinary action being taken against the responsible parties. The circumstances surrounding this request, including its urgency, raised suspicions.”

Khumalo said he told the detectives that they must ask Nkhwashu to tell the provincial commissioner to call “me”, and it did not happen.

He added that this was followed by the arrest of all seven members of the GCI ops’ national executive committee (NEC).

The GCI ops executive committee is made up of senior Crime Intelligence officials, including Khumalo, who were arrested earlier this year.

Khumalo, who is out on bail, said that, even though he is not suspended, the bail conditions don’t allow him to go back to the office and do his work.

He said there were false cases opened against detectives, including that of the theft of Matlala’s Rolex watch, which was later withdrawn.

He further stated that the WhatsApp evidence analysed so far shows that attempts were made to use the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) to lay false charges against the GCI ops team.

Khumalo said that although the cases may eventually be dismissed, in the present moment, they serve to distract, intimidate team members, and tarnish their reputation in the eyes of the public. 

“I’ve made an example of us as the NEC of the GCI ops on how difficult it is to continue with our oversight function of such a delicate project. The cumulative effect of these actions has been to create an atmosphere of uncertainty and apprehension, making it increasingly difficult for the PKTT members to carry out their duties effectively. Such tactics not only undermine morale but also erode public trust in the integrity and purpose of the team,” Khumalo said.

The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry is investigating allegations of collusion and corruption between politicians, senior police, prosecutors, intelligence operatives, and elements of the judiciary, levelled by KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

gcwalisile.khanyile@inl.co.za