Suspended Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu is appearing before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee this Thursday and Friday, as investigations into grave allegations of political interference within police operations gain momentum. This inquiry stems from a shocking press briefing held in July by KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who accused Mchunu and other senior officials of egregious misconduct.
During the controversial briefing, Mkhwanazi made explosive claims pointing the finger at Mchunu, Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection, Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya, and Mchunu’s associate, Brown Mogotsi. He alleged that this group played crucial roles in undermining the independence of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and obstructing the path of justice.
At the centre of the accusations is Mchunu’s direct interference in operational matters, particularly the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team. This unit was initially established in 2018 to investigate the disturbing trend of politically motivated murders and related crimes in KwaZulu-Natal. Mkhwanazi claims that in March, Sibiya was instructed to remove 121 case dockets from the task team at Mchunu’s behest. Alarmingly, these files, some containing instructions for arrests, were reportedly shelved at the police headquarters in Pretoria without the knowledge of Mkhwanazi or National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola.
“Five of these dockets had instructions to arrest perpetrators, but nothing has been done; they are sitting in an archive in his office in Pretoria. God knows why,” noted Mkhwanazi, highlighting the urgency and seriousness of the situation while standing visibly agitated in full combat gear, flanked by armed Special Task Force (STF) and Tactical Response Team (TRT) members.
He further warned that the ongoing battle involves “high-level senior officers,” suggesting a troubling nexus between a national crime syndicate, sitting politicians, senior police officers, and prosecutors—potentially explaining the quick efforts to halt investigations.
In an additional layer of complexity, Mkhwanazi accused Mchunu of misrepresenting his relationship with Mogotsi, who allegedly had unauthorised access to classified documents within the SAPS. Mogotsi has been tied to Vusumuzi “Cat” Matlala, a controversial figure linked to a R360 million police tender awarded in 2024, later nullified due to procedural irregularities. Following Matlala’s arrest on attempted murder charges, police uncovered a web of alleged corruption involving Mogotsi, Matlala, and Mchunu through analysis of cellphone communications.
Despite Mchunu’s firm denials of any ties to Matlala, he has revised his stance on Mogotsi. After previously insisting in March that he did not know Mogotsi, the minister has since acknowledged meeting him but downplayed their association, expressing that he has never accepted anything from him.
Mchunu has been placed on special leave pending the outcome of ongoing investigations. The Ad Hoc Committee has already heard testimony from Mkhwanazi, Masemola, and Sibiya, with several other senior SAPS officials expected to follow in the coming weeks.
Dr Thulisile Ganyaza-Twalo, the Unit Manager for Parliament, confirmed on Wednesday that hearings are currently in “full swing.” With updates being provided, the committee is set to witness the testimony of Mchunu on the 16th and 17th of October. This will be led by senior counsel Advocate Norman Arendse SC, followed by a direct questioning session from MPs on the 21st of October. If necessary, further engagement with Mchunu has been slated for the 22nd of October.
Moreover, the former Police Minister Bheki Cele is scheduled to appear before the committee on the 23rd and 24th of October, alongside other high-ranking officials, including Deputy Ministers Cassel Mathale and Polly Boshielo, Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia, and NDPP Advocate Shamila Batohi, with sessions extending into mid-November.
In her address to the committee, Ganyaza-Twalo disclosed that 325 public submissions have thus far been received, with the window for public input set to close on 17 October. Furthermore, the committee has been granted an extension until 28 November 2025 to complete its investigations.
Two witness lists were presented during the meeting, with the first containing confirmed witness appearances and the second comprising names pending consultation. Notably, this latter group includes individuals like Nkabinde, Mogotsi, and even President Cyril Ramaphosa, from whom details on meetings involving Mchunu, Cele, and Masemola are being sought.