In testimony before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu stated that he personally raised concerns about the dual roles held by Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo, who serves as the Head of Crime Intelligence while occupying another, unspecified position.
Minister Mchunu emphasized the demanding nature of leading Crime Intelligence, stating it was a full-time responsibility and questioning the practicality of combining it with other duties. He told the commission he was unaware that another senior official, Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya, had previously voiced similar concerns directly to National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola.
The Minister’s testimony was part of a broader recounting of his orientation into the police portfolio. He described a five-month period following his appointment where he was briefed on long-standing organizational challenges. These included the operation of various internal task teams, delays in implementing decisions—particularly those related to a pending work-study report—and issues concerning units like the Murder and Robbery unit, as well as human resource management matters.
Mchunu also revealed that discussions touched on the status of the National Political Killings Task Team, which is based in KwaZulu-Natal. He stated that in a meeting on 1 November 2024, National Commissioner Masemola informed him and his deputies, Dr. Bosello and Mr. Cassel Mathale, that the task team was not a formal unit but rather an “interim” structure. The Minister indicated he would elaborate on this point at a later stage.
Reflecting on the orientation, Mchunu characterized it as a “fruitful five-month kind of exercise” that helped him understand the department, noting that such a period is typically required to grasp the complexities of a new ministerial portfolio.
The Commission continues its investigation into matters of police management and efficiency.