In brief
Senzo Mchunu has been accused of receiving financial backing from a corrupt businessman and obstructing investigations into politically motivated murders, as revealed by KwaZulu-Natal police chief Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. President Cyril Ramaphosa has described these claims as critical for national security.
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu is under fire following grave allegations linking him to criminal gang activities and interference in police investigations concerning politically motivated murders. KwaZulu-Natal police chief Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi made these startling claims during a press briefing on Sunday. He asserted that Mchunu has been financially supported by a allegedly corrupt businessman to bolster his political aspirations.In response to the allegations, Mchunu dismissed them as "wild claims," calling for a thorough investigation into the circumstances. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has labeled the situation as a high-priority national security issue, signifying the government's commitment to addressing the matter seriously.General Mkhwanazi detailed a timeline he believes illustrates that the disbandment of a specialized task force — established in 2018 to investigate political murders in KwaZulu-Natal — was orchestrated to cover up connections to influential figures within the province. Despite the ongoing violence and many unresolved cases, Mchunu had earlier justified the unit's disbandment, claiming it was no longer effective.Mkhwanazi revealed that 121 case files were removed from the task force upon Mchunu's orders, raising concerns about the ongoing processing of these cases. He highlighted that five of these cases were prime for arrests yet have remained dormant since March.Adding fuel to the allegations, Mkhwanazi implicated Mchunu as having ties to businessman Vusimuzi Matlala, who previously held a lucrative police contract but had it terminated following an attempted murder charge in May. Mkhwanazi presented text messages and transferral evidence to bolster claims of financial support to Mchunu's political career.As investigations mount, National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola has pledged to address these serious accusations in the forthcoming week when he announces a new acting head of crime intelligence. This comes in light of the recent arrest of Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo, the chief of criminal intelligence, and several officers, all linked to allegations of misused funds and suspect recruitment practices within the South African Police Service (SAPS).
