PRETORIA - National Police Commissioner, Fannie Masemola, says many politicians had a keen interest in the work of the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Political Killings Task Team.
Masemola says the team had to be handled with sensitivity, given the flood of inquiries from numerous politicians.
He's testifying before the Madlanga commission of inquiry in Pretoria.
"This was an operation that investigated politically related killings. So, we were very sensitive and selective as to who got involved… After this Political Task Team was established, a lot of politicians had interest in what they are doing and a lot of inquiries were being made. Hence, we had to narrow those people that are involved in this operation," he said.
Last week KZN Police Commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, testified that the first special police team to deal with these killings was formed in 2011, when political killings started intensifying.
Intraparty political killings in the province at the time led to the establishment of the Moerane Commission, Mkhwanazi said.
Masemola also raised the commission's history during his testimony.
He referenced how the first task team before the PKTT had been disbanded as it was ineffective.
It's a similar notion which the country is now observing with the 'new' PKTT which Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu, disbanded saying it added no value to policing in SA.