Sibiya Defends Mchunu, Calls Directive to Disband PKTT “Lawful Instruction”

Cape Town, 15 October 2025 — During his testimony before Parliament’s ad hoc committee probing police corruption, suspended Deputy Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya staunchly defended the decision by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), calling it a “lawful instruction” and a legitimate political decision. EWN

Minister Has the Authority, Says Sibiya

Sibiya argued that Mchunu’s directive was well within his powers, noting that it is not uncommon for ministers to reorient or dissolve specialised units in response to shifting priorities. EWN He told the committee that:

“It’s a lawful instruction because the minister, who is the boss of the national commissioner … if you come up with something … and say I don’t think this is needed today, let’s change direction. It’s happened before many times, even during Minister Bheki Cele’s time.” EWN

He further emphasized that ministers should be “hands on,” including when it comes to operational matters. EWN

Sibiya maintained that there was “nothing unusual” about disbanding PKTT and that the decision falls within the minister’s constitutional and managerial remit over policing structures. EWN

Context: PKTT and Its Controversy

The PKTT was established to investigate politically motivated murders and disappearances, a highly sensitive domain given South Africa’s fraught history of political violence. Over the years, the team has attracted both praise for its specialised role and scrutiny over its operations, mandate, and resource allocation.

Critics of the disbandment have warned of the potential chilling effect on accountability in cases where politics and violence intersect. They argue that scrapping the unit risks undermining investigations into politically charged killings or creating gaps in institutional capacity to pursue such cases.

Parliamentary Committee Probes Corruption

Sibiya’s comments come on the second day of his testimony before the ad hoc committee investigating corruption within the police service. His defence of Mchunu is one among several contentious assertions made under questioning. EWN

Observers expect the committee to probe not only the legality of the directive to dissolve PKTT, but also whether the move reflects political interference in structural policing mandates.

Possible Legal and Political Fallout

The debate over whether Mchunu’s directive was lawful or an overreach may hinge on constitutional, statutory, and operational considerations:

• Constitutional & statutory authority: The police minister does have oversight over the national police, but how that authority can be exercised may be subject to review.
• Precedents: Sibiya referenced past instances (e.g. under former Minister Bheki Cele) where similar restructuring happened. EWN
• Accountability & oversight: If the directive is found to have compromised investigations into political killings, critics could intensify efforts to seek judicial or parliamentary remedies.

At stake is more than bureaucratic reorganisation — the very integrity of institutions tasked with protecting rights and enforcing rule of law in politically sensitive cases.