On 28 September 2025, Yoliswa Makhasi, Head of the Public Service Reform Programme at the New South Institute, appeared on Newzroom Afrika’s News at Prime (DStv channel 405) to talk about Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s decision to disband the KwaZulu-Natal Political Killings Task Team (PKTT). The segment, presented by Xoli Mngambi, followed testimony given to the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry. Appearing alongside her were Dr Jean Redpath (Dullah Omar Institute) and Dr Mpho Matlala (UNISA). The programme began by noting that witnesses at the Commission had broadly described the instruction as misguided, and played a clip in which the National Commissioner questioned who had briefed the minister before the letter was issued.

Makhasi began by saying that the panel should avoid speculating about an unrelated development — the possible departure of the Commission’s chief evidence leader — and argued that commissions should plan for continuity in critical roles. She then set out her central point: in policing, the minister provides policy direction, while operational control rests with the National Commissioner. She said that, although this distinction is reflected in Chapter 13 of the National Development Plan and relevant policing laws, it is often ambiguous in practice. Clearer written guidance on roles, she argued, would reduce disputes when instructions are issued and strengthen accountability.

The other guests offered different perspectives on the same issue. Redpath claimed that the PKTT had become a drain on resources, citing spending figures presented at the Commission and estimating that costs over six years, including salaries, could total around half a billion rand. She said that this scale of spending falls squarely within a minister’s remit to set priorities. She added that consultation could have been handled better, but did not view the matter as simply an instance of ‘operational interference’; she attributed the difficulties to long-standing institutional weaknesses, including instances of capture within the police force, as well as factional politics that complicate lines of authority.

Matlala said that any departure of the evidence leader would likely slow the Commission’s work, and depending on the reasons, it could raise concerns about integrity. Regarding the PKTT itself, he treated reported items, such as a R500,000 laundry bill, as red flags that should prompt accountability. He questioned why the unit had been dissolved rather than being subjected to closer scrutiny, and suggested that the boundary between the minister’s policy role and the commissioner’s operational remit had been crossed unlawfully. The programme also aired a clip of Elaine Harrison, head of the National Prosecuting Authority in KwaZulu-Natal, warning that disbanding the unit ahead of local elections could be risky given the province’s history of election-period violence.

Makhasi returned to the subject of the process. She said that decisions of this importance should be preceded by direct, structured engagement between the minister and the National Commissioner. Referring to testimony that consultation had been limited, she said that better engagement could have reduced contestation. She said that where an instruction appears irregular or unlawful, heads of department should not carry it out, but should instead put advice in writing and keep a paper trail. They should also seek guidance from the Public Service Commission and legal counsel and escalate the issue through the proper channels. In closing, she acknowledged the career pressures that senior officials face when their fixed-term contracts are coming to an end, but said that integrity is demonstrated by following due process rather than accommodating irregular directives.

By the end of the broadcast, the debate had broadened. Redpath and Matlala asked questions about costs, integrity and the political context, while Makhasi emphasised the importance of roles, consultation and records — the processes that make decisions reviewable. The interview is available on the Newzroom Afrika YouTube channel.