SAPS National Commissioner Orders Return of 121 Case Dockets to KZN
South African Police Service (SAPS) National Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, has confirmed that 121 case dockets previously taken from the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Political Killings Task Team will be returned to the province. The dockets had been under scrutiny at the SAPS head office since March, sparking controversy over potential tampering and investigation interference.
KZN Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, accused Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection, Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya, of ordering the withdrawal of the dockets without authority. Mkhwanazi claimed that the case dockets had been sitting at the head office without any investigation work being done on them, prompting concerns about the potential impact on justice.
General Masemola assured that the dockets would be returned to KZN after detectives made copies and “checked” them against initial records to identify any disparities. He emphasized that the Task Team would continue its investigations, with additional investigators being deployed to support the effort. A new leg of the Political Killings Task Team is also expected to be opened in Gauteng within the next four weeks.
The case dockets are part of an ongoing investigation into political killings in KZN, with some cases dating back several years. The Task Team’s work has been crucial in addressing these complex and high-profile crimes. However, the recent controversy highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in ensuring justice and transparency.
Next Steps
With the dockets set to return to KZN, investigators will continue their work, and the province’s Provincial Commissioner will allocate the cases back to the Task Team. The SAPS has assured that the investigations will proceed without interference, and the public can expect updates on the progress of these cases
