Deputy National Commissioner Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili, is giving testimony before Parliament's Ad Hoc Committee.
Image: File Picture: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers
DEPUTY National Commissioner of Police, Lieutenant-General Tebello Mosikili, on Tuesday expressed her bewilderment over a directive issued by suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).
Mosikili was the Acting National Commissioner while National Commissioner Fannie Masemola was on leave when Mchunu issued the directive on December 31, 2024.
“To be honest and frank, I became confused. I was unsure. I was also surprised and I questioned the authenticity of the directive as I could not believe the content, precisely because of the tone of the letter. For me it was unexpected,” she said, when recalling her initial reaction.
Mosikili was providing testimony on Tuesday before the Ad Hoc Committee, which is probing allegations that were made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi at a July 2025 media conference.
“I took time to interrogate, looking at various other issues that this directive would have, how it was conveyed and, I think, most importantly, was the fact that it was already leaked to the media when we had not yet dealt with the matter internally,” she said.
In her testimony, Mosikili said she became aware of the email with Mchunu’s directive on January 2, 2025, when she returned to the office.
She had called the staff in the National Commissioner’s office to establish the authenticity of the letter and whether it was sent to Masemola’s office.
“The email was sent on 31 December at around 17.20pm.”
Apart from Masemola, the email was sent to Mosikili, the executive secretary in Masemola’s office Major-General Sebola and private assistant Brigadier Lethoko.
It was also copied to Mchunu’s advisor Advocate Vusi Pikoli, Mchunu’s spokesperson, a Mr Mthembu and Mlandu and a Gmail address.
Earlier in her testimony, Mosikili said in the week before the directive, she, Masemola and Mchunu had been criss-crossing the provinces to evaluate the operations of the PKTT.
She said her discussions with Masemola were general and about the continuation of 'Operation Festive Season'.
“At no stage was the mention of (disbanding the) PKTT or any attempts to have any directive on PKTT, neither from the minister nor the National Commissioner. My direct commander at the time, the National Commissioner did not mention anything in relation to the PKTT.”
mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za