Cape Town – The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has accused President Cyril Ramaphosa of abusing his powers by allegedly deploying elite police units to serve corporate interests at Richards Bay Minerals (RBM).
The claim arises from explosive testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
According to Mkhwanazi, the Presidency pressured the police to redeploy the Special Task Force and the National Intervention Unit to protect RBM operations after his own team had been withdrawn. He told the commission:
“A call that I received from my boss, the national commissioner, who said to me, ‘But I hear that you deployed people to Richards Bay, and you withdrew them’.”
Mkhwanazi confirmed that he had pulled the officers out after they failed to complete their mission:
“Yes, I deployed them there for a mission; they didn’t achieve their mission a year later. I brought them back and they are still carrying those investigations, but from my office.”
He went further, saying:
“No, I received a complaint from the Presidency. You must send those people back there.”
Mkhwanazi added that the redeployment amounted to special treatment for RBM:
“RBM had the privilege of getting a SAPS deployment only for them, which was funded from the national office. They were there for RBM and nobody else, and they were not talking to anyone, including him or the district commissioner.”
MKP Dr Hlophe during the SONA Debate raised the matter of President Ramaphosa and Mr Senzo Mchunu using the SAPS elite units ( NIU and Task Force) to intimidate Richards Bay communities and protect the commercial interest of the Richards Bay Minerals .
— MK Party Stan (@XFactor079) September 20, 2025
The MK Party seized on these revelations, saying they confirmed suspicions that Ramaphosa manipulates security structures for political or corporate agendas.
As stated by the party: “These allegations do not just validate the MK Party’s long-standing concerns; they expose, in [no uncertain] terms, a Presidency under Cyril Ramaphosa that is actively manipulating state security structures to serve political agendas.”
The party has demanded that Ramaphosa disclose the legal basis for the deployment, the cost to taxpayers, and how using specialised police units for a private company aligns with his constitutional duties. They warned that if he fails to account, they will escalate the matter through Parliament, Chapter 9 institutions, the Auditor-General, and possible court action.
MK PARTY DEMANDS URGENT ACCOUNTABILITY OVER RAMAPHOSA’s ABUSE OF ELITE POLICE UNITS pic.twitter.com/4YzNDLGz8q
— @Sheziwethu (@Shezwethu) September 22, 2025
ACCOUNTABILITY ON THE DEPLOYMENT OF SPECIAL TASK FORCE AND NATIONAL INTERVENTION UNIT TO RICHARDS BAY MINERALS pic.twitter.com/8mwDt0BmWr
— uMkhonto WeSizwe Party (Official) (@MkhontoweSizwex) September 22, 2025
National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola has also defended decisions taken under his watch, insisting that “any deployment of specialised units is always informed by operational needs and the safety of communities,” though he did not directly address the RBM claims.
The Presidency denies wrongdoing. Ramaphosa has proclaimed that any deployment of special units is done under law, citing public safety and threats to stability. A commission of inquiry has been launched to examine claims of political interference.
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Compiled by Lisabeal Nqamqhele
