In a move that is raising eyebrows across the nation, President Cyril Ramaphosa has opted to keep Police Minister Senzo Mchunu in his position, even as serious allegations of criminal activity have been levelled against him by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. The decision comes as South Africa grapples with ongoing concerns over corruption within its law enforcement agencies.
Following Mkhwanazi’s explosive allegations, which suggest a criminal syndicate may have infiltrated both law enforcement and intelligence structures in South Africa, President Ramaphosa has placed Mchunu on special leave. Critics view this as just a “paid holiday,” indicative of the government’s inadequate response to urgent issues plaguing the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Mkhwanazi has alleged that Mchunu was involved in serious misconduct, including attempts to disband the Political Killings Task Team and moving key case files out of KwaZulu-Natal to Pretoria, supposedly orchestrated by Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection Shadrack Sibiya. Both Mchunu and Sibiya have publicly denied these serious charges.
During an address last night, Ramaphosa stated that Mchunu had agreed to fully cooperate with a newly established commission of inquiry, which will be led by Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga. “As we intensify the fight against crime, it is vital that we safeguard the integrity and credibility of the police and other law enforcement agencies,” said Ramaphosa, acknowledging the weight of the allegations in question.
ActionSA reacted strongly to Ramaphosa’s actions, equating the delayed decision to a mere exercise of silencing critics without offering any tangible resolution. MP Dereleen James argued that the South African populace has long expressed concerns over the corruption festering within SAPS, and pointed out that the government’s failure to act has allowed the problem to escalate. “Government inaction has allowed this decay to worsen… further eroding the integrity of law enforcement leadership,” she noted.
In echoing James’ sentiments, GOOD Secretary-General Brett Herron critiqued the appointment of yet another commission of inquiry as “too slow, too cumbersome, and too costly.” He emphasised that commissions can only recommend actions rather than execute them, leaving implicated individuals unaccountable as the system’s credibility erodes.
Under this new inquiry, the commission will investigate not only the allegations against Mchunu but also assess the involvement of current and former senior officials within the SAPS, National Prosecuting Authority, State Security Agency, and various metropolitan police departments including Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane. The commission will have the authority to refer matters for urgent criminal investigation based on the evidence it uncovers during its proceedings.
Ramaphosa’s appointment of former Gauteng community safety MEC Firoz Cachalia as acting Police Minister has raised hopes for a reformed SAPS, though many remain sceptical. South Africans are increasingly concerned with rising criminality, evident in ongoing issues such as gender-based violence and gang-related activities, leaving the nation yearning for a police service they can trust.
As this inquiry unfolds, it remains to be seen whether the commission will bring forth any meaningful changes or if it will suffer the same fate as previous probes, like the R1 billion Zondo Commission Report into State Capture, which many believe fell short of delivering justice.