Overview
- Testifying to Parliament’s ad hoc committee, Bheki Cele said only the national police commissioner or the IMC had authority over establishing or disestablishing SAPS task teams, contradicting Senzo Mchunu’s stance.
- Cele told MPs he was informed that Mchunu met businessman Brown Mogotsi and alleged syndicate figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala to discuss funding for Mchunu’s ANC leadership ambitions, a claim Mchunu denies.
- Cele confirmed he met Matlala in December 2024 and relayed Matlala’s assertions about political overtures and an attempted push to file an affidavit against Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo.
- He criticised the PKTT shutdown as procedurally wrong and urged scrutiny of corruption across the justice system, including prisons, while Mchunu has defended his decision on resource grounds and proposed an audit and a single anti‑corruption unit.
- Mchunu this week backtracked on having consulted President Cyril Ramaphosa before the PKTT decision, Ramaphosa has declined to comment pending inquiry reports, and separate commission testimony credited the PKTT with assisting in the arrest of Katiso “KT” Molefe.