Police Minister Senzo Mchunu made his first appearance before Parliament’s ad hoc committee on Thursday.
The committee is investigating allegations of police corruption following accusations of infiltration by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
In July, Mkhwanazi accused Mchunu of political interference that led to the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), among others.
Here are five key takeaways from his testimony:
DISBANDING THE POLITICAL KILLINGS TASK TEAM (PKTT)
Mchunu said his directive to review the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) was aimed at ensuring its resources benefited all South Africans, rather than a select few.
“I believe the decision to disband the PKTT was for lawful reasons. It was not for unlawful reasons,” he said, denying allegations that he disbanded the task team to protect criminal syndicates.
‘I AM NO CRIMINAL’
The minister denied allegations of criminality levelled against him by Mkhwanazi. “General Mkhwanazi knows in his conscience I am not a criminal, that I have nothing to do with criminal syndicates” he said.
POLICE MINISTRY A ‘HUGE RESPONSIBILITY’
Mchunu said his position was a “huge responsibility” given the country’s high crime rates. “You somehow stand between life and death,” he said about reflecting on being deployed into the portfolio.
ON BROWN MOGOTSI
The minister admitted to knowing businessman Brown Mogotsi, however, he denied speaking to him about disbanding the PKTT.
“I never spoke to Brown Mogotsi about the disbandment. How he got to know, how he got access to the letter, it is better explained by him,” he said.
Mchunu will conclude his testimony on Friday.
