South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on an immediate leave of absence following serious allegations linking him to organised crime. The announcement came during a live televised address, where Ramaphosa emphasized the gravity of the claims, stating that they undermine the constitution and jeopardize national security.
To address the situation, the president has appointed law professor Firoz Cachalia as the interim police minister and announced the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the matter thoroughly.
Judicial Commission to Probe High-Level Corruption, Political Killings, and Police Interference Allegations
The judicial commission, which will be led by the country’s deputy chief justice, is tasked with investigating a wide range of accusations. These include interference in police investigations concerning political killings and corruption within law enforcement agencies.
Ramaphosa noted that the probe would also extend to current and former police officials, as well as members of the national executive. This move comes amid growing public pressure on the president to act decisively in light of the high-profile nature of the case.
Minister Mchunu, a senior member of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and potential leadership contender for the party’s 2027 elective conference, has publicly denied the allegations.
In a statement, he welcomed the president’s decision and pledged full cooperation with the investigation, asserting his commitment to integrity and due process. He insisted that he is prepared to respond to the accusations and maintains that his actions have been in line with his official duties.
Whistleblower Alleges Corruption, Cover-Ups, and Political Interference in Police Investigations
The allegations were brought to light by KwaZulu-Natal’s provincial police chief, Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. He claimed that Mchunu had received political funding from a businessman involved in corrupt dealings and detailed events suggesting deliberate interference in police work.
Gen Mkhwanazi said that Mchunu orchestrated the disbandment of a special task force probing political assassinations and organised crime, including drug cartel connections. He further alleged that case dockets were unlawfully removed under Mchunu’s instruction, stalling numerous investigations.
Gen Mkhwanazi’s testimony includes text messages and payment records allegedly showing that businessman Vusimuzi Matlala financially supported Mchunu. Matlala had a significant police contract that was cancelled after his arrest for attempted murder.
The police chief claimed that 121 unsolved case files were taken from the disbanded task team without proper authorization and have since remained uninvestigated, despite five of them being ready for arrests. These developments have raised serious concerns about political interference in law enforcement and underscore the urgency of the judicial probe.
