Ian Cameron
By Thabo Mosia
Police Committee Chairperson Ian Cameron has called for an urgent national inquiry following explosive allegations from KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. During a special operational press briefing at KZN Police Headquarters in Durban, Mkhwanazi accused Police Minister Senzo Mchunu of protecting drug syndicates and obstructing vital crime-fighting efforts. Cameron, in response, has written to Speaker of the National Assembly Thoko Didiza, demanding an immediate parliamentary debate to address what he calls “deep dysfunction and alleged collusion” within the senior ranks of the South African Police Service (SAPS). These claims have sparked widespread concern, raising questions about corruption, political interference, and the ability of SAPS to combat organised crime effectively.
Cameron’s call comes amid growing unease over the state of policing in South Africa, where crime rates continue to soar, and public trust in law enforcement hangs in the balance. Mkhwanazi’s allegations point to a web of misconduct implicating senior officials, including Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya and Minister Mchunu himself, alongside controversial figures like Vusumuzi “Cat” Matlala. As the nation watches, the push for accountability could mark a turning point—or expose deep-seated challenges in the fight against crime.
The Political Killings Task Team: A Proven Force Under Threat
At the heart of this unfolding drama is the Political Killings Task Team, a specialised unit established in July 2018 by an inter-ministerial committee (IMC) under President Cyril Ramaphosa. Formed to tackle the alarming rise in political assassinations, particularly in KZN, the team brought together SAPS, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), State Security, and Correctional Services. Its mission was clear: use a data-driven, prosecution-led strategy to bring perpetrators to justice and restore stability in violence-plagued regions.
The task team’s track record speaks for itself. Since its inception, it has investigated 612 case dockets, ranging from murders and attempted murders to intimidation and conspiracy. The unit arrested 436 suspects, including 35 serving police officers, and recovered 156 firearms—55 of which were ballistically linked to political crimes. Courts have convicted 128 accused across 106 cases, handing down sentences totalling over 1,881 years, including 29 life terms. Beyond KZN, the team expanded its reach, addressing the murders of traditional leaders and incidents at the University of Fort Hare in the Eastern Cape.
Despite these successes, Mkhwanazi alleges that on 31 December 2024, Minister Mchunu issued a directive to disband the task team and halt the filling of critical Crime Intelligence vacancies. More shockingly, 121 sensitive dockets were removed from the team and transferred to SAPS headquarters in Pretoria, where they have reportedly sat untouched since March 2025. Among these were five dockets with instructions to arrest suspects—action that has yet to be taken. Mkhwanazi claims this move was executed by Deputy National Commissioner Sibiya under Mchunu’s orders, effectively stalling investigations into political killings and organised crime.
A Syndicate Unmasked: Allegations of Corruption and Cover-Ups
Mkhwanazi’s allegations go beyond internal police dysfunction, pointing to a powerful criminal syndicate with ties to the highest levels of government. He revealed that the task team’s disbandment followed its deployment to Gauteng at the request of the Hawks to assist in dismantling a drug and organised crime network. This syndicate, allegedly headquartered in Gauteng but operating nationwide and into neighbouring countries, involves serving politicians, SAPS members, metro police, correctional officers, prosecutors, judicial officials, and businesspeople linked to a drug cartel trafficking narcotics from South America through Durban’s port.
The investigation gained momentum after the April 2024 murder of a Q-Tech employee, a long-standing Transnet service provider. Gauteng police arrested three suspects, including a SAPS warrant officer, seizing an AK-47 and a pistol. Ballistic tests later linked these weapons not only to the Q-Tech killing but also to unsolved murders of prominent South African artists dating back to 2021. On 6 December 2024, the task team arrested Katiso Mf, a syndicate member, for the murder, followed by the arrest of Vusumuzi “Cat” Matlala on 14 May 2025 for three counts of attempted murder.
Matlala, a contractor awarded a R360 million SAPS contract in 2024, emerges as a central figure in the scandal. Mkhwanazi presented WhatsApp messages from Brown Maki—an unregistered associate of Mchunu—to Matlala, dated 1 January 2025, stating, “The task team that came to your house and harassed you have been dissolved. They got the letter on Monday. As we speak, they are bringing all dockets to Spear.” “Spear” refers to SAPS national headquarters. Further messages and proof of payments reveal Matlala financially supporting Maki and Mchunu, including travel costs and a dinner in Cape Town in early 2025, allegedly tied to political activities.
Mkhwanazi also highlighted Maki’s access to classified police documents, including occurrence book entries and a Crime Intelligence presentation from September 2024, despite not being a SAPS employee. In one message, Maki warned Mkhwanazi of a “plot to charge” him, attaching sensitive files. The commissioner claims Mchunu denied knowing Maki in Parliament on 5 March 2025, only to admit in a recorded phone call on 30 March 2025 that Maki was a “comrade” from the North West. This contradiction, Mkhwanazi argues, is part of a broader effort to shield the syndicate.
Interference and Retaliation: The Task Team Under Siege
The fallout from the task team’s work in Gauteng was swift. On 31 December 2024, Mchunu’s disbandment letter was issued, followed by Sibiya’s instructions in early 2025 to withdraw all dockets to Pretoria. By 25 June 2025, the Investigative Directorate for Corruption (IDC) arrested the task team’s project manager, Lieutenant General Kumalo, in what Mkhwanazi called a “dramatic arrest.” The IDC also seized evidence from Matlala’s phone, raising questions about its motives—whether it was targeting corruption or silencing those exposing it.
Mkhwanazi further accused Crime Intelligence members of leaking classified documents, including vetting files and covert property details, to a Member of Parliament. This MP then opened a case in Gauteng alleging fraudulent vetting clearances, a move Mkhwanazi sees as a tactic to disrupt investigations. Meanwhile, the minister’s decision to suspend Crime Intelligence appointments has left the unit leaderless for over seven months, crippling its ability to infiltrate syndicates.
The commissioner’s defiance was palpable during the briefing. “I will die for this badge,” he declared, vowing to fight until the end. He insisted the task team remains operational under the National Commissioner’s authority, not Mchunu’s, and that a criminal investigation is underway to root out those manipulating the justice system.
Ian Cameron’s Response: A Call for Accountability
Ian Cameron, Chairperson of the Parliament Committee on Police, wasted no time responding to Mkhwanazi’s allegations. In his letter to Speaker Thoko Didiza, he wrote, “I have written to the Speaker of the National Assembly to request an urgent parliamentary debate on the disturbing allegations that emerged today regarding SAPS leadership. South Africans deserve clear answers. Silence is not an option.” In an interview, Cameron described the claims as a “massive cause for concern,” noting that Mkhwanazi’s decision to go public was a rare and risky move, bypassing the National Commissioner and the minister.
Cameron stressed that the allegations are too significant for the police portfolio committee alone to handle. “This needs to be addressed on a larger level by Parliament as a whole and obviously I would go as far as saying the Presidency,” he said. He pointed to unanswered questions about corruption, citing Matlala as an example of someone who “always seems to get off” despite serious criminal allegations and a history of misconduct, including firearms seized during a SARS raid in Johannesburg.
The committee, Cameron explained, has the power to hold the executive to account, and he intends to summon Mchunu for tough questioning. “It will not be an easy discussion,” he warned, promising to probe the removal of the 121 dockets, the disbandment of the task team, and the minister’s alleged links to Matlala and Maki. Cameron also raised broader concerns about integrity in SAPS, questioning why lifestyle audits and integrity testing—standard in other departments like Public Works—are not enforced in policing.
A Nation in Crisis: The Wider Impact
Mkhwanazi’s allegations paint a grim picture of a police service compromised at its core. He linked the Gauteng syndicate to a surge in violent crime, particularly in KZN, where drug abuse drives murders, rapes, and other offences. “If we take away this substance, they would become good citizens,” he said, urging law enforcement and citizens to unite against corruption. The disbandment of the task team, he warned, has left ground-level police “fighting blind,” exposing ordinary South Africans to the brunt of unchecked crime.
The controversy is not new. In January 2025, crime monitor Mary de Haas called for a forensic review of the task team, despite its successes—379 arrests in 151 cases and 70 convictions, including 20 life sentences. By April, security analysts suggested Mchunu’s directive was politically motivated to shield senior officials from prosecution. The latest revelations add fuel to these concerns, with Mkhwanazi’s evidence suggesting a coordinated effort to protect powerful figures.
🔴 Central News Special Edition | Issue 112 🔴 Download the Latest Print and E-Edition | Headline: Ngwathe Local Municipality’s R2 Billion Budget Rejected as Unfunded by Free
State Treasury
Download Here:
Direct PDF Link:
https://centralnews.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Central-News-Issue-112.pdf
Read all our publications on magzter:
https://www.magzter.com/ZA/Central-News-Pty-Ltd/Central-News/Newspaper/All-Issues
Central News also offers Sponsored Editorial Content, Podcasts , Radio / Social Media Simulcast, Video Production , Live Streaming Services, Press Conferences, and Paid Interviews (Video/Audio) etc.
We guarantee exceptional exposure, reach, and engagement, with an excellent return on investment.
Advertisement:
To place your advert on our platforms (Print Newspaper or Digital Platforms) : Please email : sales@centralnews.co.za
For Business Related:
business@centralnews.co.za
Newsroom:
Send your Stories / Media Statements To: newsroom@centralnews.co.za
General Info:
info@centralnews.co.za
Office Administrator:
admin@centralnews.co.za
Whatsapp / Call: 081 495 5487
Website: https://www.centralnews.co.za
Social Media Platforms (@centralnewsza) : Linkedin, Facebook, Tiktok, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube