Bheki Cele, who was police commissioner from 2009 until he was dismissed in 2011, criticised his successor Riah Phiyega’s handling of the 2012 tragedy
Former minister’s testimony alleged corruption and political interference
Cele said he had tried to meet his successor to discuss the issue after leaving office, but his calls went unanswered
While admitting to his failure to consult before ordering the disbanding of a political killings task team, the suspended police minister denied any links to criminal syndicates
The anonymous witness said frequent interference in the investigation of murder suspect Katiso Molefe showed how far his influence reached in the police service
He contradicted the deputy national commissioner, who said he took the dockets from the task team because he ‘could not disobey an order from the minister
The witness, who has requested anonymity, told the Madlanga commission he was invited to parties with senior officials who wanted to influence his investigation of the Armand Swart murder case
The unidentified witness implicated staff the Johannesburg central police station in collusion with drug cartels and sanctioned hits
Suspended minister defends his order to disband the task team
The deputy national commissioner has accused the KwaZulu-Natal police boss of using corruption allegations as part of a succession battle within the service
The deputy national commissioner defended the disbandment of the team, saying its budget should support broader crime-fighting efforts
The deputy national commissioner said he doubts the authenticity of WhatsApp messages allegedly implicating him
Nkabinde claimed the purpose of the operation was to delete crucial evidence that would disprove Mkhwanazi’s allegations
KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner is grilled in parliament on accusations against the minister
During the hearing by parliament’s ad hoc on police corruption, MPs sidestepped the suspended minister’s role in the infiltration of the criminal justice system by cartels
The KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner said Mkhwanazi told the parliament committee that several officers who served in the task team on political killings had since been arrested for corruption and other crimes
The committee was forced to adjourn after the EFF leader objected to the KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner submitting the same statement given to the Madlanga commission
Further details linking suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu to cartel figures emerged
National police commissioner Fannie Masemola said Khumalo was ‘in good spirits and taking health advice from his physician’
The Madlanga commission heard testimony about text messages between Mokgotsi and Matlala that detailed payments to the suspended police minister, manipulation of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate and the sharing of classified information
Crime intelligence boss Dumisani Khumalo told the Madlanga commission that text messages from cartel leader Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala exposed links to ANC politics and police interference.
He said organised crime thrived through police infiltration and political interference behind the disbandment of the political killings task team
The inquiry heard this happened when the team closed in on syndicates tied to murder suspects
The national police commissioner concluded his testimony on Tuesday linking murder suspects Katiso Molefe and Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala to the police minister
The national police commissioner said the political killings task team is still in operation with no clarity on its disbandment
Masemola told the Madlanga commission the disbandment process was ‘by design’ and had begun while he was on leave
Masemola was questioned about whether a police commissioner could refuse directives from the police minister and initially said it depended on the nature of the directive
The KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner said his testimony would deal with political interference by parliamentarians and the national executive
The KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner said the order to disband the team was irrational and irregular
The KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner said his testimony will first deal with the disbanding of political killings task team in the province and then the influence of criminal syndicates in the police service
The Human Sciences Research Council report was released a day after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that he had placed Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on a leave of absence amid corruption allegations against him
President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on leave following explosive allegations of criminal syndicates infiltrating law enforcement agencies