South African Police Minister Faces Serious Allegations of Gang Associations

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has been accused of connections to criminal gangs by KwaZulu-Natal police chief Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who claims Mchunu received financial support from a corrupt businessman. The allegations involve the disbanding of a task force investigating politically motivated murders, raising grave concerns over the integrity of South Africa's police force.

South Africa's Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has found himself at the center of serious allegations regarding his purported links to criminal gangs. The accusations were leveled by KwaZulu-Natal police chief Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi during a startling press briefing on Sunday, where he alleged that Mchunu has been receiving financial backing from an allegedly corrupt businessman to advance his political ambitions.

In response to these serious claims, Mchunu has denied the “wild allegations,” while President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged their gravity, insisting they are of "grave national security concern" and warranting immediate focus.

Mkhwanazi outlined a troubling narrative that allegedly reveals government interference in police matters, alleging an orchestrated effort that led to the disbandment of a task force established in 2018 to investigate the assassination of politicians, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal. He contended that the work of this team uncovered links to powerful individuals, including politicians, police officials, and businesspersons involved with drug cartels, which may have contributed to its disbandment.

Justifying the dissolution, Mchunu claimed that the unit was no longer providing value, despite a plethora of unresolved cases, as pointed out by Mkhwanazi. According to him, 121 case files were reportedly removed from the disbanded unit under Mchunu's orders without appropriate authorization from the National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola.

Recent reports indicate that these case dockets have been stagnant at police headquarters, with crucial investigations stalled. Alarmingly, Mkhwanazi revealed that five of these files were close to securing arrests prior to the shutdown. Furthermore, he highlighted Mchunu's relationship with businessman Vusimuzi Matlala, who previously held a lucrative police contract until his arrest for attempted murder in May. Mkhwanazi presented evidence, including text messages and payment records, to substantiate the claims of financial support.

Adding to the turmoil within the South African police, General Masemola has promised to address these grave allegations later this week amid ongoing cases involving high-profile arrests, including the police chief of criminal intelligence, Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo, who was detained due to fraud accusations last month. Khumalo and several others are implicated in an investigation concerning the misuse of intelligence funds and improper appointments within the South African Police Service (SAPS).