The South African Police Service (SAPS) says it has made copies of the 121 dockets linked to political killings in KwaZulu-Natal for the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, while investigators in KZN resume work with the original files.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, in an interview on 702, said that the national commissioner returned the files to KZN “to ensure that we do not delay justice for the families that are waiting for answers and for the victims that have died.”

Allegations of Political Interference

In July, SAPS KZN Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi accused suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu of disbanding the Political Killings Task Team and removing the dockets.

He also alleged that Mchunu shielded individuals implicated in politically motivated crimes. Mchunu dismissed the claims as “baseless.”

Mathe confirmed that the dockets, which include 107 murder cases, four attempted murders, two conspiracies to commit murder, and two cases of pointing a firearm, had been held at SAPS head office in Pretoria since March.

“These are serious cases, murder cases of traditional leaders, party members, councillors,” she said.

Criticism From the Presidency and the Police Ministry

President Cyril Ramaphosa and acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia criticised the commissioner’s move, saying the files should remain with the Madlanga Commission.

Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya stressed that the commission had the power to prioritise urgent cases and refer them back to the police without delay.

Legal Risks Prompted Decision on Political Killings Dockets

Mathe explained that legal advice influenced the commissioner’s decision to return the files.

“Legally we could be sued. Legally, we are defeating the ends of justice. If those families really take us to court, they would have a leg to stand on,” she said.

To avoid delays, SAPS sent copies to the commission and returned the originals to KZN investigators.

“Let us make a copy of each docket. But let the dockets go back to KZN so that the task team continues the work,” Mathe said.

She added that the commission could request the originals at any time.

Mathe defended the task team’s work, noting it had investigated 333 dockets since 2018 and secured over 130 convictions, including against hitmen, organisers, and spotters.

Should SAPS have kept the political killings dockets with the inquiry instead of returning them to KZN?

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