South African Police Service SAPS National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola has assured South Africans that normal, day-to-day police work continues.
This follows bombshell allegations by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi at a media briefing on Sunday 6 July.
Mkhwanazi claimed Police Minister Senzo Mchunus disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team in December 2024 was influenced by a criminal syndicate operating from Gauteng.
"I can confirm before South Africans today that the investigation which these members were involved with in Gauteng has unmasked the syndicate, and this syndicate involves, amongst others, politicians who are currently serving in Parliament, he alleged.
The syndicate also involves some members of the SAPS, metro police and Department of Correctional Services, as well as prosecutors and the judiciary, he claimed.
All these are controlled by the drug cartel and businesspeople in Gauteng. This act, of course, undermines the criminal justice system in this country, Mkhwanazi added.
He also revealed alleged WhatsApp messages linking Mchunu to Brown Mogotsi, who he claimed is the Ministers associate.
Mogotsi was allegedly communicating police information with accused businessman Vusimuzi Cat Matlala, who is financially supporting Mchunu and Mogotsis political endeavours.
Mchunu and Shadrack Sibiya, the Deputy National Police Commissioner for Crime Detection who allegedly withdrew 121 case dockets from the Task Team, have both denied the allegations.
Masemola to brief media after Mkhwanazi claimsIn a statement on Monday 7 July, the SAPS said Masemola would announce the appointment of an acting Divisional Commissioner for Crime Intelligence this week. He will also update the media on ongoing police operations.