But police officials tell commission about cases of interference
Witness describes a clash between a KwaZulu-Natal-based task unit and a Gauteng-based Hawks unit
Latest testimony at parliament’s police inquiry adds to the number of officials not consulted by suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu before disbanding the political killing task team
Police officials doctored a ballistic report to remove the link of a whistleblower to various murders
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
The deputy national police commissioner argued that two members of parliament should recuse themselves because they are complainants in criminal cases against him
KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner is grilled in parliament on accusations against the minister
The embattled deputy national police commissioner told journalists that he felt betrayed by his colleagues and national commissioner Fannie Masemola.
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
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 testimonies of KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and national police boss Fannie Masemola suggest the rot is deep in the police service
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
The commission investigating police corruption has expedited the commencement of inquiry hearings in order to be the first to interview the KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner