Gauteng to launch political killings task team: Panyaza Lesufi

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has announced that the province will establish its first political killings task team within the next four weeks.

The unit will investigate politically motivated murders dating back to 2010, following growing concern about targeted killings of councillors, officials, and community leaders.

Political killings rising in Gauteng

Speaking after the Gauteng Executive Council Lekgotla on Wednesday, Lesufi said the ANC-led Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) had recorded a disturbing increase in politically linked murders.

“In the last three months, we’ve lost countless councillors, government officials, and staff employed by municipalities and state institutions,” Lesufi said.

He added that the ANC believes these killings are not coincidental and require urgent intervention.

Dedicated SAPS unit to be set up

Following consultations with Police Minister Firoz Cachalia, provincial commissioner Lieutenant General Tommy Mthombeni, and national commissioner General Fannie Masemola, it was agreed to form a specialised SAPS unit.

“This task team will investigate high-profile and politically sensitive cases in Gauteng. It will be operational within the next four weeks,” Lesufi confirmed.

He also urged government employees and community members with information to assist investigators.

Focus to extend to taxi violence

Lesufi said the task team must also address violence linked to the taxi industry, which has seen several targeted killings of taxi leaders in the province.

Planning is already underway, with SAPS developing a project plan, allocating resources, and defining the terms of reference for the new unit.

“The GPU fully supports this step to ensure peace and political tolerance in Gauteng,” Lesufi said.

National backdrop of political violence

The announcement follows tensions at national level over how political killings dockets have been handled in KwaZulu-Natal.

General Masemola recently confirmed that 121 dockets were returned to the disbanded KZN political killings task team, with copies sent to the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.

President Cyril Ramaphosa and Minister Cachalia had raised concerns about the move, but later agreed that urgent cases could be referred to police without undermining the commission’s mandate.

Lesufi said Gauteng would work closely with national structures to ensure coordination.

“This administration pledges full support to law enforcement and the judiciary to arrest and prosecute those who undermine our democracy through political violence,” he said.

{Source: IOL}

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