CAPE TOWN - Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has clarified that the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) was set up solely to tackle political murders in KwaZulu-Natal, not as part of routine police operations.
Mchunu is testifying before the Ad Hoc Committee probing alleged corruption and political interference in the criminal justice system.
On his first day in the hot seat, the order of business was the PKTT.
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KZN police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi earlier stressed that the task team was established in response to the province's relentless political bloodshed.
But the minister, who has been on special leave since July, says there is a significant distinction between a unit and a task team.
"Everyone was aware that this was a task team. And once you mention the task team, two things jump to your mind. The first approach is to assemble a team of people with skills relevant to dealing with a particular task identified at that time.
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"But there is always an element of a time frame. You do not establish a task team permanently; if you do, it's rare. Ordinarily, a task team has a date of starting, ending, and pulling people back where they belong," he said.
Mchunu says these were the circumstances under which the PKTT was established.
"As such, it would have to be evaluated from time to time to assess if it would be needed over time," he added.