South Africa's Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has been placed on an immediate leave of absence by President Cyril Ramaphosa pending a judicial probe into allegations linking him to organized crime activities, including interference in investigations related to political killings.
South Africa's Police Minister Put on Leave Amid Organised Crime Allegations
South Africa's Police Minister Put on Leave Amid Organised Crime Allegations
President Cyril Ramaphosa suspends Senzo Mchunu as a judicial commission investigates serious claims of organized crime connections.
In a significant move, South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on an immediate "leave of absence" following serious allegations of connections to organized crime. In a live televised address to the nation, Ramaphosa emphasized the severity of the claims, stating that they undermine constitutional integrity and pose a threat to national security. As part of the response, he announced the establishment of a judicial commission to investigate the allegations further, with law professor Firoz Cachalia stepping in as the interim police minister.
Mchunu, 67, has categorically denied any wrongdoing, expressing his willingness to address the accusations directed at him. During his address, Ramaphosa highlighted that the allegations include interference with investigations into political killings and corruption within law enforcement circles. He underscored the urgent need for a comprehensive inquiry, headed by the deputy chief justice, to examine the claims alongside investigations into current and former police personnel, as well as members of the national executive.
Political analysts note that Mchunu is an influential figure within the African National Congress (ANC) and has potential ambitions for a leadership role in the party's upcoming conference in 2027. In light of this, public pressure has mounted on Ramaphosa to address the matter swiftly, given its high-profile nature.
The initial allegations were brought to light by KwaZulu-Natal provincial police head Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who accused Mchunu of receiving funds from a corrupt businessman to further his political career. Mkhwanazi detailed concerns regarding the dissolution of a task force created in 2018 to investigate a series of political killings, claiming its disbandment was orchestrated due to the discoveries linking high-profile figures—including politicians and police officials—to a drug cartel syndicate.
Mchunu previously argued that the task force was ineffective in contributing to the province's security. However, documents shared by Mkhwanazi allege that critical case files were removed from the disbanded task force without proper authorization. This included investigations with active arrest orders that have since stagnated.
As South Africa grapples with issues of corruption and law enforcement credibility, the unfolding investigation continues to attract significant attention and scrutiny from both the public and political spheres.
