Cape Town – Deputy Police Minister Cassel Mathale has told Parliament that his boss, suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, expressed dissatisfaction with the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) and hinted at disbanding it, but never consulted him before issuing the December 31 directive to dissolve it.
Mathale, the sixth witness before the ad hoc committee probing political interference in the SAPS, said he first saw the letter on social media and only discussed it with Mchunu afterward.
[WATCH] Deputy Police Minister Cassel Mathale says he first learned about the directive to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) on social media. he adds “I thought it’s fake.” pic.twitter.com/1Gc0vrGJAw
— SABC News (@SABCNews) October 28, 2025
“He raised the matter that it must be disestablished, and we had discussions around that,” he explained, though he could not remember the exact date of the conversation.
He added, “We have had discussions around the structure and the need for us to handle things to strengthen our capacity so we don’t have to create task teams to deal with specific challenges.”
[WATCH] Deputy Police Minister Cassel Mathale says Minister Senzo Mchunu gave hints about the disbandment of the PTKK in some of the meetings he attended with him. Mathale points out that he only found out about Mchunu’s directive to disband the PKTT on social media and could not… pic.twitter.com/nsFjPyrHM6
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) October 28, 2025
Mathale said that he was not involved in the decision to disband the task team and only came across the directive when it appeared on social media, with his first chance to discuss it with Mchunu coming in January, after the letter had already been issued.
“We had been interacting all along about other things, but this was not one of them. He didn’t consult with me. The only time he spoke to me was when the letter was sent out.”
He described the directive as “problematic and unusual,” particularly due to its emphasis on immediate action, and questioned its practicality.
[WATCH] Cassel Mathale says the letter disbanding the PKTT came as a surprise especially the directive for immediate closure. He says this posed a problem, as only the operatives themselves, through proper engagement, could determine how to responsibly wind down the unit. pic.twitter.com/zZjLkgwMk6
— SABC News (@SABCNews) October 28, 2025
Mchunu defended his decision, claiming he acted within his constitutional rights and saw no need to consult senior police officials.
The hearing is ongoing.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
