Pretoria – President Cyril Ramaphosa has denied approving the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), distancing himself from Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s decision.
In written submissions to Parliament’s ad hoc committee, Ramaphosa said he was not consulted and expressed dissatisfaction, stressing that only National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola had the authority to dissolve the unit.
“I conveyed my dissatisfaction at not having been consulted prior to this decision being taken. I further indicated that, in my view, this was a decision for the national commissioner to make,” Ramaphosa said.
The president said that he learned of the decision around 1 February 2025 from Masemola, who told him that Mchunu had ordered the unit to be disbanded.
Ramaphosa says he was not consulted by Minister Mchunu prior to disbanding the #PKTT.
“I met the Minister on or about 13
February 2025. At this meeting, the Minister informed me that he had given the instruction to disband the task team and his reasons …” pic.twitter.com/jieHqKcwdh— MK Party Stan (@XFactor079) March 18, 2026
“I understood the National Commissioner to have disagreed with the minister and, this being within his powers, to have acted as he saw fit in response thereto, seeking to ensure the work of the PKTT continued.
“I did not approve of this decision [to disband the PKTT]. It was my understanding, from my initial discussion with the National Commissioner, that the PKTT would continue its work.” Ramaphosa said.
Ramaphosa also rejected claims of political interference or efforts to halt investigations, noting that politically motivated killings – especially in KwaZulu-Natal – remain a serious threat to democracy.
The submission forms part of an inquiry into alleged corruption and interference in the justice system, with MPs having posed around 100 questions to the president.
Cyril Ramaphosa
” Minister Senzo Mchunu only told me in February 2025 about the disbandment of the PKTT”The only words we want to hear now are ” I have released Senzo Mchunu from his duties as Minister of Police with immediate effect”
Ramaphosa’s written response to the… pic.twitter.com/9tUFtUZ0Uz
— FighterGiveUsASignal (@athenkosi591) March 18, 2026
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
