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The Dockets Are Dormant’: ATM Calls for Probe Into Mchunu’s Alleged Interference in SAPS

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2 months ago

July 8, 2025

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African Transformation Movement says the integrity of justice is at stake if political meddling in police work goes unpunished

The fallout from KwaZulu-Natal police boss Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s bombshell allegations has reached Parliament and now, the Public Protector’s inbox.

This week, the African Transformation Movement (ATM), led by Vuyo Zungula, formally requested that the Office of the Public Protector launch a full-scale investigation into alleged political interference in the South African Police Service (SAPS).

Zungula described the situation as “one of the most flagrant episodes of executive misconduct, political interference, and abuse of power in the history of democratic South Africa.”

And the ATM isn’t holding back.

‘It’s Not Speculation’: ATM Believes There’s Evidence

At the centre of the call for an inquiry is Mkhwanazi’s allegation that Police Minister Senzo Mchunu disbanded the elite Political Killings Task Team a move the ATM says has paralysed investigations into politically motivated murders.

Zungula claims the allegations aren’t mere gossip.

“They are backed by digital communication records, WhatsApp messages, voice recordings, financial documentation, intercepted data, and operational reports,” he wrote in the letter.

He argues these materials point to a deliberate effort to obstruct investigations, protect politically connected individuals, and “subvert the criminal justice system for political and private gain.”

What Happened to the Political Killings Task Team?

The Task Team was once the country’s frontline in addressing a disturbing rise in political assassinations, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal.

But according to Mkhwanazi and now the ATM, its sudden disbandment was never discussed or reviewed by either national or provincial SAPS leadership. Worse, Zungula says 121 politically sensitive case dockets were quietly moved to SAPS national headquarters, where they’ve since gathered dust.

“Since the minister’s directive, 121 dockets have been shelved,” said Zungula. “These actions not only undermine justice for victims but embolden criminal syndicates and signal that political connections offer protection from prosecution.”

A Shadow Over the Magaqa Case

The ATM’s call for accountability comes just as the long-running investigation into the 2017 murder of former ANC Youth League secretary-general Sindiso Magaqa has seen a breakthrough.

One of the men involved in the hit recently confessed in the Pietermaritzburg High Court and received 25 years in prison. He is also serving time for other crimes. But questions linger about the full political motive behind the killing and whether it, too, is among the dormant dockets Mkhwanazi referenced.

The overlap between political killings and police interference is drawing growing concern from civil society, opposition parties, and ordinary South Africans who are tired of impunity.

Mchunu Denies Wrongdoing

Minister Mchunu has dismissed all allegations against him, insisting he is willing to subject himself to any investigation.

But Zungula and his party say that the situation has already caused irreparable harm to the credibility of the police.

“The disbanding of the Task Team has already resulted in severe consequences for the integrity of policing and justice in the country,” Zungula wrote.

Will the Public Protector Step In?

As of now, there has been no official word from the Office of the Public Protector about whether an investigation will be launched.

But the pressure is mounting.

In the wake of State Capture and endless scandals, South Africans are weary of secret dockets, delayed justice, and political figures shielding one another.

If these claims are true, the consequences could be massive, not just for Mchunu, but for the entire justice system.

Dormant dockets, disbanded units, and disturbing accusations, the ATM’s call to action may be the first step in uncovering what’s really happening behind the SAPS badge.