Deputy Police Minister Cassel Mathale will return to the parliamentary ad hoc committee inquiry today as the investigation into alleged corruption and political interference in South Africa’s law enforcement continues.
The inquiry, chaired by Soviet Lekganyane, is probing claims that a drug trafficking cartel has infiltrated policing and political structures in the country. The allegations were first made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi earlier this year and have since led to two major investigations — the Madlanga Commission and Parliament’s ad hoc committee hearings.
On Tuesday, Mathale told MPs that he first learned about the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) through social media posts, which he initially dismissed as fake.
“I thought it’s fake,” Mathale said, explaining that he only later realised the decision was genuine.
The PKTT was responsible for investigating politically motivated murders, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, and its disbandment by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu in December 2024 has sparked controversy.
Mathale testified that he was not consulted beforehand and did not receive any formal communication about the decision.
“I don’t know what was going through his mind when he wrote that letter,” he told the committee.
When asked whether he believed Mchunu’s decision was correct, Mathale replied, “I think with retrospect, that decision could have been made differently.”
However, he later added that he supported the minister’s plan to restructure the police by replacing the PKTT with a revived Murder and Robbery Unit.
Committee evidence leader Advocate Norman Arendse SC reminded Mathale that giving false or misleading testimony to Parliament is a criminal offence under section 172 of the Powers and Privileges Act.
Mathale, who has served as deputy police minister since 2019, maintained that he had no prior knowledge of the disbandment letter and said he was not part of any discussions about the matter.
MPs questioned Mathale about his role within the police ministry, noting that he and fellow deputy minister Polly Boshielo had not been given delegated responsibilities under Mchunu’s leadership.
Mathale explained that this was due to Mchunu’s inexperience in policing and his need to “find his feet” in the role.
uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party MP Sibonelo Nomvalo criticised the lack of defined duties for deputy ministers, asking whether they were “adding any value” to the ministry’s work. Mathale responded that he wanted his responsibilities clearly outlined but denied that he was idle, saying, “We are working as a team; we do things.”
The session also touched on the ANC’s January 2025 birthday celebrations, where Mchunu was reportedly seen in George, while Mathale said he was in Cape Town. MPs pressed him on whether the disbandment had been discussed during that period, but Mathale maintained that it had not.
The ad hoc committee is expected to continue questioning Mathale today, focusing on his communication with senior police officials and his awareness of structural changes within the ministry. Proceedings are scheduled to begin at 09:00 SAST)and will be broadcast live from Parliament.
Watch the live stream of the ad hoc committee hearing below:
