Deputy National Commissioner Tebello Mosikili gave evidence before the Ad hoc Committee that is probing allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
Image: Phando Jikelo / RSA Parliament
Lieutenant-General Tebello Mosikili, the deputy national commissioner of Police, revealed on Tuesday that the directive to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) did not follow the appropriate chain of command.
Testifying before the Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations raised by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi on Tuesday, Mosikili expressed her concerns about the lack of proper communication and consultation regarding the directive issued on December 31, 2024, by Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu.
“It could have been best if we were convened and those affected and expected to deliver on this particular key performance indicator were aware of what would happen and what the repercussions would be.
“I think with every operation, you need to evaluate what the impact will be, and so in short, it was not properly communicated. In my view, it could have been done better,” she said.
Mosikili was testifying at the inquiry that covers the alleged unlawful disbandment of the PKTT, moratorium in filling of vacancies in the Crime Intelligence Unit, and alleged corrupt relations between senior leadership of SAPS and members of the public, as well as political interference in the work of the police service.
It was sparked by a directive issued by Mchunu to Masemola on December 31, 2024, to disband the PKTT with immediate effect, among other things.
Mosikili, who has 36-and-a-half years of experience at SAPS, was the acting national commissioner when Mchunu issued the directive and wanted a closing-out report by January 20, 2025.
In her earlier testimony, she told the Ad Hoc Committee that she was “confused” when she became aware of the directive on January 2, 2025.
“To be honest and frank, I became confused. I was unsure. I was also surprised, and I questioned the authenticity of the directive as I could not believe the content, precisely because of the tone of the letter. For me, it was unexpected,” she said when recalling her initial reaction.
Days before the directive was issued on New Year's Eve, Mosikili was with Mchunu and Masemola evaluating the Operation Festive Season in Eastern Cape, the Western Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal.
During their interactions before they parted ways after a funeral in KwaZulu-Natal on December 28, 2024, Mosikili said: “At no stage was the mention of PKTT or any attempts to have any directive on PKTT, neither from the minister nor the national commissioner.”
When pressed about the necessity of disbanding the PKTT, Mosikili expressed reservations.
“I had never thought we would just move from having this task team and have it disbanded.”
Mosikili had been a divisional commissioner for detective services when the PKTT was formed and knew the circumstances surrounding its establishment.
She stated that when task teams were disbanded, there had to be a demobilisation plan.
In the case of PKTT, there were other teams providing support, such as the combat unit, Crime Intelligence, and other departments.
“When you have a national intervention team, you can’t just wake up the next morning and say team you can go back. You can't just disband a team without consideration of all factors and draw a clear plan of demobilising these teams that were sent to KwaZulu-Natal, and to avoid fruitless expenditure,” added Mosikili.
She also stated that she did not see at any time task teams being done away with, despite Mchunu in his testimony claiming that the PKTT was meant to be absorbed into the Murder and Robbery Unit in line with a feasibility study conducted before he took office.
Mosikili said the feasibility study on organisational development had recommended models, and one had recommended that the establishment of units depended on the challenges of each province.
“It was not conclusive if murder and robbery was an option, and you should do away with task teams because you will, from time to time, require to supplement capacity to what province is dealing with.”
She confirmed that there was no impact assessment conducted on the PKTT before its disbandment.
Mosikili added that Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya and Nkabinde were not opposed to the disbandment, saying the directive stated “it must be immediately disbanded”.
“The minister acceded to that at some point and said they must go and rework the plan,” she said in relation to what Masemola and some top officials had proposed, the gradual winding down of the PKTT.