WATCH | Parliament questions Mary de Haas on alleged letter against PKKT
Parliament Ad Hoc Committee Hears Testimony on Disputed Political Killings Task Team from Mary de Haas
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In a highly anticipated session, Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee resumed its inquiry into the KwaZulu-Natal violence and the controversial Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), with Professor Mary de Haas, a violence monitor, taking the hot seat.
De Haas, who penned a letter demanding the disbandment of the PKTT, citing its irregular formation and misuse of SAPS resources, is now testifying on these serious allegations.
The Committee is probing explosive claims made by Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who revealed that a criminal syndicate known as the “big five” has allegedly infiltrated the police.
Mkhwanazi also noted that de Haas had been “very vocal” about dissolving the province’s PKTT.
Her name has surfaced repeatedly in both the current parliamentary inquiry and the proceedings of the Madlanga Commission, underscoring her pivotal role in the ongoing debate.
De Haas’s testimony follows last week’s dramatic adjournment when MPs dismissed Cedrick Nkabinde, suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu’s Chief of Staff, due to inconsistent statements and accusations of misleading Parliament.
Reflecting on previous evidence, Mchunu revealed last month that, upon their appointment as deputy ministers, numerous individuals sought confidential discussions with them on policing issues, including de Haas.
“De Haas is one of those people who wrote extensively to us to raise concerns about policing,” he said.
In December 2024, De Haas formally urged Mchunu to dissolve the task team, describing it as “irregularly formed” and advocating for its investigators to be reintegrated into traditional detective units.
She also questioned the qualifications of the team’s head, Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo.
Moreover, she proposed establishing a judicial oversight mechanism, headed by a retired judge with expertise in criminal and policing matters, to review the task team’s cases and investigate allegations of misconduct.
As the Committee continues to unravel these complex issues, all eyes remain on de Haas’s testimony for further clarity on the future of the PKTT and efforts to restore integrity within the KwaZulu-Natal police structures.
thabo.makwakwa@inl.co.za
IOL Politics