Ramaphosa Breaks Silence, But Says ‘No Comment’ on Mchunu’s Political Killings Task Team Claims

The president insists he’ll only speak once the Madlanga Commission wraps up its work.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is treading carefully around the growing controversy involving suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and the now-defunct Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), a specialised police unit once dedicated to tackling political murders in KwaZulu-Natal.

Speaking to reporters in Pretoria on Monday after visiting anti-apartheid veteran Tlou Theophilus Cholo, Ramaphosa refused to confirm or deny Mchunu’s explosive claim that the president personally approved the disbandment of the PKTT late last year.

“I appointed the Madlanga Commission to investigate allegations made against Minister Senzo Mchunu,” Ramaphosa said calmly. “A lot has been said, and a lot more will be said. I will await the commission’s findings before making any comments.”

In short, no comment, for now.

The Political Killings Task Team: Why It Matters

For those unfamiliar with the backstory, the PKTT was established to tackle one of South Africa’s most disturbing patterns of violence, the targeted assassinations of politicians, especially in KwaZulu-Natal, where intra-party rivalries have often turned deadly.

The task team, praised for its results, had been seen as a vital tool in confronting politically motivated crime and intimidation. Its abrupt disbandment in December 2024, therefore, raised eyebrows across the political spectrum and fuelled questions about whether political interference played a role.

Mchunu, who has since been suspended, told Parliament earlier this month that he had fully briefed Ramaphosa before dissolving the unit, claiming he received the president’s “complete backing.”

“I briefed the president, and he agreed with the briefing I gave him,” Mchunu said under oath during a parliamentary hearing.

Conflicting Stories Emerge

But that version of events has been directly contradicted by National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, who testified before the Madlanga Commission that Ramaphosa was “taken aback” when the PKTT was disbanded.

“Mchunu told me the president had agreed,” Masemola explained. “But I was surprised, because the president had previously praised the team’s dedication and performance.”

According to documents tabled before the commission, Mchunu’s decision to dissolve the unit was formalised in a letter dated 31 December 2024, addressed to Masemola, instructing the immediate cessation of all PKTT operations.

Ramaphosa’s Balancing Act

The president’s decision to remain silent is as much political strategy as it is procedural caution. “It’s only correct that we wait until the commission has completed its work,” he told journalists, emphasizing the importance of “respecting due process” and the independence of Justice Madlanga’s inquiry.

With both Mchunu and Masemola’s testimonies already in the public domain, Ramaphosa’s refusal to engage has only deepened public speculation about who knew what and when.

Public Reaction: Silence Speaks Volumes

On social media, the president’s “no comment” stance has been met with mixed reactions. Some South Africans say he’s right to let the commission do its job, while others see it as a way to dodge accountability.

“Waiting for the commission is fine, but the public deserves transparency now,” one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter). Another noted: “Ramaphosa’s silence says more than any statement could.”

The Madlanga Commission, which is investigating corruption, political interference, and criminality within the justice system, is expected to deliver its findings later this year or early 2026.

A Test of Trust

The disbandment of the PKTT and the conflicting accounts surrounding it, strike at the heart of public confidence in both the presidency and South Africa’s criminal justice system. For many, the episode has reignited old concerns about political meddling in policing and accountability at the highest levels of government.

Whether Ramaphosa’s patience proves wise or costly will depend on what the commission uncovers. But for now, South Africans are left watching and waiting for answers.

President Ramaphosa isn’t talking, at least not yet. As the Madlanga Commission digs into Senzo Mchunu’s claims about the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team, one thing is clear: the silence at the top may be temporary, but the political fallout could be long-lasting.

{Source: IOL}

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