Advocate Dali Mpofu has raised serious concerns regarding the legality of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent decision to place Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on special leave. This decision has been challenged in the Constitutional Court by Mpofu, who is representing former President Jacob Zuma. The Advocate argues that Ramaphosa’s actions breach constitutional provisions regarding ministerial appointments.
Earlier this month, President Ramaphosa announced Mchunu’s special leave in response to explosive allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Mkhwanazi has accused certain members of the judiciary of engaging in corrupt activities in collusion with public office holders, raising serious concerns about the integrity of South Africa’s democratic institutions.
Mpofu contends that while the South African Constitution does allow for the President to appoint two ministers from outside the National Assembly, it does not provide for the appointment of an acting minister under such circumstances. “This whole maneuver is about how I save my friend and ensure that he has a salary for 3-5 years,” Mpofu argued. “God knows how long he has been doing nothing but keeping the drivers and the bodyguards. The law is very clear; if you want Professor Cachalia, then you must dismiss Minister Mchunu.”
This situation raises pivotal questions about ministerial accountability and the respect for legal processes in the highest levels of government. Mpofu’s allegations hint at a broader narrative of political patronage and impropriety, exposing the often murky waters of power dynamics within the South African political landscape.