PRETORIA - Suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu took an interest in the murder of ANC councillor Phendukani Mabhida.
This is what KZN Acting Deputy Provincial Commissioner, Anthony Gopaul, told the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry when proceedings resumed on Monday.
Gopaul was testifying during phase two of the commission, which is probing allegations of political interference and police conduct within SAPS.
Mabhida, an ANC ward councillor in Mandeni, was assassinated in February 2025 after he had reportedly exposed alleged corruption related to the municipality.
Two alleged hitmen have been arrested in connection with the crime.
READ | Political killings | Murdered ANC councillor an 'anchor' of community
According to Gopaul on 5 February 2025, he received a call from an unknown number.
He said he did not initially recognise the caller’s voice and only realised it was Mchunu after asking the caller to identify himself.
The Acting Provincial Commissioner said Mchunu enquired about the circumstances surrounding Mabhida’s killing and requested to be kept updated on the investigations.
He told the commission that the call by the minister was unusual saying it was not a normal practice for the minister to call him directly.
This given that he had no relation to the minister and that it was the first time a cabinet minister contacted him.
Gopaul further testified how Mchunu did not clarify to which capacity he was requesting the information on.
READ | Mchunu tells Madlanga Commission PKTT had reached its time span
He told the commission that he had to explain to Mchunu how the case was handled by the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) instead of the police station, as the suspended minister instructed.
Gopaul’s reasoning to the minister was that the PKTT was better equipped and trained to understand the modus operandi of how these murders take place and who the hitmen are who are contacted.
But he says the minister did not respond to him.
READ | Mchunu tells Madlanga Commission PKTT had reached its time span
Gopaul said the next interaction with the minister was when he gave him an update on the suspects who were arrested, not specifically for the councillor's murder, but it was suspects who were arrested on possession of an unlicensed firearm.
He says it was the local investigators at the police station who had picked up during interviews that the suspect may be related to the murder of the councillor.
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Mchunu messaged the acting commissioner again on 15 February, during Mabhida’s funeral, requesting updates on the arrest.
But Gopaul was informed that further communication would be handled through the Provincial Commissioner.
Gopaul testified that he later understood the minister’s interest in the case stemmed from the fact that Mabhida was an ANC councillor and that Mchunu himself was a member of the ANC.
The commission continues.