Police Minister Senzo Mchunu testified at the Madlanga Commission that President Cyril Ramaphosa simply noted his decision to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) during a brief January meeting. This came after Mchunu had already issued the disbandment letter. The PKTT was originally set up by Ramaphosa in 2018 following the murder of an ANC councilor in KwaZulu-Natal.
During his appearance at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on December 5, 2025, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu explained the circumstances surrounding the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT). He stated that he informed President Cyril Ramaphosa about the decision in a short discussion held in January, likely on the 13th or 23rd.
Mchunu emphasized that the encounter was not intended as a formal presentation but rather a quick update. 'When we had the meeting, whether the 13th or the 23rd, I wasn’t going there to make a presentation, so we held a brief discussion. It was just to give a short briefing to the President of what had happened and to brief him that there is this particular development that has happened and that I had wished that I had had an opportunity to consult to discuss with him about this particular decision before,' Mchunu told the commission.
The PKTT was established by Ramaphosa in 2018 in response to the killing of an African National Congress (ANC) councilor in KwaZulu-Natal, aimed at addressing political violence. Mchunu noted that he had already sent the disbandment letter prior to the meeting with the president, who responded by merely noting the action.
This testimony sheds light on the internal processes behind the unit's dissolution, amid broader scrutiny of task teams handling political killings. The commission continues to examine related issues, including allegations of human rights abuses by the PKTT.