SAPS Commissioner Masemola Hails Swift Arrest in Whistleblow

Fannie Masemola welcomes the arrest. (SAgovnews)

by Mathipa Phishego

National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola has praised the KwaZulu-Natal Political Killings Task Team (PTTK) for the swift arrest of a 55-year-old local chief and a 23-year-old hitman in connection with the 2022 murder of whistleblower Xolani Ntombela.

Ntombela was killed at his homestead in the Emasosheni area of Mpophomeni, Howick. After exposing illegal land sales, sparking outrage and calls for justice. The arrests, carried out following months of investigation, are part of 121 investigation dockets recently returned to the PTTK a move authorized by Masemola despite controversy over political oversight and a judicial commission of inquiry.

Masemola described the quick turnaround as encouraging, urging the task team to continue pursuing remaining cases to provide closure for affected families. “We must ensure that those who commit politically motivated crimes are held accountable. Families deserve justice, and we are committed to delivering it,” he said.

The PTTK, established in 2019 following recommendations from the Moerane Commission, has been instrumental in combating political violence, leading to over 130 convictions since 2018. The unit focuses on politically motivated killings across KwaZulu-Natal and other provinces, targeting perpetrators and dismantling networks that threaten democracy and public safety.

Civil society and political analysts have welcomed the arrests, noting that such decisive action reinforces public confidence in law enforcement and underscores the SAPS’s commitment to protecting whistleblowers and upholding the rule of law.

As the investigation continues, the PTTK faces mounting pressure to resolve remaining cases swiftly, demonstrating that political killings will not go unpunished in South Africa.