A criminologist says Police Minister Senzo Mchunu's directive to immediately disband a special team investigating political killings in KwaZulu-Natal is likely to undermine confidence in the province's law enforcement agencies. .
This direction was conveyed in a memorandum to the Commissioner of Police on December 31.
Mchunu says the task team is no longer needed.
Before the task force was formed, 134 incidents related to political violence were reported in the state between 2011 and 2018.
Professor Nirmal Gopal, a criminologist at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, said: The early dissolution of this particular task team is a strategic move in terms of how society begins to engage with law enforcement and how we begin to view government, as it is a strategic move from a government perspective. will have a big impact. So I think these things are going to be very important for us. ”
Professor Bheki Mgomezulu, a political analyst at Nelson Mandela University, said task teams should be better equipped rather than disbanded as political parties prepare for 2026 local government elections. I think it was.
“Mr Mchunu’s decision to disband the task team raises many questions and will have serious implications for MPs, especially given the fact that the 2026 local government elections are just around the corner. The question arises as to why it is necessary to disband the task team especially at this time, if in fact the main intention has not changed. Hopefully, the task team should have been strengthened, more capable and provided with more resources, rather than being disbanded. We hope that they will reverse their decision in line with what is happening now as they prepare for local government elections,” Mugomezulu said.
