Masemola testified at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry in Pretoria on Monday, which is investigating allegations of police corruption.
National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola has revealed that he informed President Cyril Ramaphosa about Police Minister Senzo Mchunu's attempt to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT)
Masemola testified at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry in Pretoria on Monday, which is investigating allegations of police corruption.
A significant part of his testimony centered on efforts to dissolve the task team.
KZN police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has alleged that Mchunu may have sought the disbandment to shield criminal syndicates.
Masemola said that, although he opposed Mchunu's bid to disband the PKTT, he eventually conceded to the instruction because of mounting pressure.
He said once it became evident that Mchunu was determined to dissolve the unit, he escalated the matter to the president as a last resort.
"The only avenue I know is the president. In this case, General Mkhwanazi did report this to the portfolio committee of police, with no assistance, and I can't go to court and take the minister to court."
At the heart of the issue was the interpretation of Section 207(2) of the Constitution, which states that the national police commissioner must exercise control over SAPS in line with the directions of the police minister.
Masemola admits that Mchunu's instruction to disband the political killings task team was not supported by the constitution.
Despite this, he still conceded to the minister's order.
*This article was first published by Eye Witness News
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By: Lerato Mutlanyane
Police have recovered another body at the Bloemspruit Waste Water Treatment Works earlier today, raising concerns after the first discovery at the facility in July 2025 and prompting investigations into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
According to reports, at about 09:00 a municipal worker spotted a naked male body floating at the Heidedal waste plant. Police were alerted immediately, and SAPS divers retrieved the decomposed body.
Police spokesperson Constable Maselela Langa said the cause of the incident remains unclear.
“We are requesting members of the public to come forward to assist in identifying the deceased, as his whereabouts are still unknown,” Langa said.
Workers at the plant suggested the body may have been dumped into a drain elsewhere before being carried through pipelines to the sewage dam.
Mangaung Metro Municipality spokesperson Qondile Khedama confirmed that similar incidents were reported in July 2025, as well as in 2023 and 2024.
“Relevant authorities have been contacted, and the matter is being dealt with accordingly. We are calling on the community to assist the municipality in safeguarding public infrastructure so that we can all receive the expected services,” said Khedama.
This upcoming hearing stems from a long battle to reform South Africa’s approach to sexual offences, particularly how consent is treated in court.
An anti-gender-based violence (GBV) organisation, the Embrace Project, is calling for justice for victims of sexual abuse as it prepares for another landmark hearing at the Constitutional Court to change parts of the Sexual Offences Act.
This upcoming hearing stems from a long battle to reform South Africa’s approach to sexual offences, particularly how consent is treated in court.
The Pretoria High Court previously ruled that some parts of the act that view consent as subjective are unconstitutional.
The NGO and a rape survivor took the Minister of Justice to court in 2021, arguing that the Sexual Offences Act allows perpetrators of sexual violence to argue that they believe there was consent, even if there wasn't.
Director at Embrace Project Lee-Anne Germanos said there have been many cases where justice has been denied, including instances where the courts favour the perpetrator of rape who said the victim’s silence could be seen as consent.
"She couldn’t find the perpetrator guilty of rape because the State couldn’t prove without reasonable doubt that he had intended to rape her, in other words, because she failed to express outward resistance either verbal or show it, the court had to believe the perpetrator’s version."
In 2024, the organisation scored a victory in the Pretoria High Court that ruled that some parts of the act were unconstitutional.
This week, the Constitutional Court must confirm or reject the ruling for it to take full effect.
*This article was first published by Eye Witness News
National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola is set to take the stand at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Monday, September 22, 2025.
Confirming the development on Sunday, Commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels said Masemola’s testimony will be open to the public and widely accessible through various media platforms.
“We can confirm that the National Commissioner of Police, General Fannie Masemola, will testify before the Commission of Inquiry on Monday, September 22, 2025,” Michaels said.
“The public will be able to follow the hearing via livestream on the Commission’s website as well as various other radio, television, news and social media platforms.”
The hearings are being held at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College in Pretoria, where members of the public will also be allowed to attend proceedings.
“We would also like, to remind those members of the public who want to attend the hearing that they should bring along a valid Identity Document or Driver’s Licence, and that no weapons will be permitted on the Commission’s premises,” Michaels added.
The commission, chaired by Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, began its hearings on Wednesday, September 17, with former acting police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi as its first witness.
Mkhwanazi questioned the motives behind the disbandment of the elite Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), suggesting the move was politically motivated and intended to protect powerful individuals.
He accused suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu of being “fully involved in the syndicate” behind numerous crimes and of sabotaging efforts to address political killings in the province.
Mkhwanazi told the commission that he had made multiple attempts to raise concerns with Mchunu about the task team’s disbandment, but his efforts were repeatedly ignored.
*This article was first published by IOL News
AlgoAtwork’s RoboRumble STEM Innovation Challenge has sparked a wave of innovation, showcasing the ingenuity of South Africa’s brightest young minds.
Among the standout projects were an autonomous robot capable of detecting toxic gases and human presence in mines, a smart personal protective equipment (PPE) system that monitors workers’ health vitals and safety compliance, and an automated agricultural system designed to optimise irrigation and conserve water.
The student-centred competition ran over four months and aimed to foster technical excellence while bridging South Africa’s digital divide. It equipped underserved youth with hands-on experience in robotics, coding, artificial intelligence, and automation.
Livingstone Mphahlele, CEO of AlgoAtwork, said he was impressed by the exceptional quality of the entries.
“What makes this challenge even more inspiring is the fact that many of the brightest ideas come from young people in rural communities that are largely underserved,” said Mphahlele.
The RoboRumble was sponsored by the University of Limpopo’s UL Digital Hub, Engen, and Sekhukhune TVET College. It attracted more than 450 young innovators from KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng and Limpopo, with just 37 reaching the grand finale.
Participants were tasked with conceptualising, designing and developing technological solutions to real-world challenges in the manufacturing, energy, and mining sectors.
“These innovators are proving that talent is not defined by geography,” said Mphahlele. “With continued support, they will become leaders driving inclusive growth, job creation and industrial transformation across the continent.”
In addition to prize money, top solutions will be incubated through the Algorhythm Living Lab R&D Incubation programme, powered by the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA).
*This article was first published by IOL News
