By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider
On Sunday 13 July, President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses the nation on the ongoing investigations into allegations made by Kwa-Zulu Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi against Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu regarding his affiliation with gangs as well as tampering with investigations linked to various politically motivated killings.
“To address these allegations and the implications of these allegations, I am establishing a judicial commission of inquiry chaired by acting deputy chief justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga. The commission will investigate allegations relating to the infiltration of law enforcement, intelligence and associated institutions within the criminal justice system by criminal syndicates.” said Cyril Ramaphosa in his speech.
Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation a week after these allegations were made against his police minister and has decided to act by placing the minister on temporary leave. The President has also mentioned the involvement of the judicial commission who are set to look into these claims as the president has said that these claims undermine the constitution and place a threat to national security.
The President also added that he will be appointing Firoz Cachalia as the interim Police Minister while Mchunu has been put on leave.
The president has made mention in his speech that the allegations made against Mchunu “call for an urgent and comprehensive investigation” and has also said that current and former police officials will be investigated including members of the national executive.
Considering that there were talks circulating of Mchunu potentially running for leadership in the next ANC presidential election in 2027, this has placed severe pressure on Cyril Ramaphosa to act swiftly in this case. Mchunu has said in a statement that “I welcome and respect the president’s decision and pledge my commitment to the process…Honour and integrity are the virtues I personally subscribe to and which we all need to make efforts to uphold.”
The allegations made against Mchunu involve orchestrating the disbandment of a task force which was set up in 2018 in order to investigate political killings which were mainly occurring in Kwa-Zulu Natal. The investigation uncovered links to various high profile individuals which included business people, police officials and politicians being involved with drug cartels and this was cited as the reason for the task force being disbanded.
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) have released a statement in which they express how this matter affects the trust in the criminal justice system, “ This is a matter that cuts to the heart of the public trust in our democratic institutions, the criminal justice system and law enforcement apparatus. The trust deficit renders law enforcement unable to investigate these allegations because they emerge from the highest echelons of the SAPS against the highest echelons of the SAPS” the statement read.
This sets the progress of social development back in the country as there has been nearly a decade and a half worth of corruption within the government of South Africa. The current coalition government was expected to rectify this issue as this was supposed to make it easier for government officials to hold each other accountable, but now these latest allegations have put a dent in the country’s hopes for more trustworthy governance.