WATCH | Parties unite in fury: Arrest Mchunu now

Mchunu

Cape Town – Several political parties have expressed strong support for KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, following his explosive allegations against Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and Deputy Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya.

Mkhwanazi accused them of political interference, dismantling the political killings task team, and shielding criminal networks tied to the ANC.

The uproar that followed the claims against the police minister forced President Cyril Ramaphosa to address the issue from a BRICS summit in Brazil, and call for restraint.

South Africa’s stability and economic growth are undermined by its high rates of crime and corruption, including by organised networks.

Mkhwanazi alleged Mchunu received payments from a corruption suspect and played a role in dismantling a team investigating killings to shield politically connected people.

The commissioner, speaking at a media briefing where he was flanked by armed security forces, some with their faces masked, said he had opened a criminal investigation into the minister, also accusing other officials of obstructing police work against organised crime.

Mchunu rejected the allegations as “insinuations made without evidence or due processes”, but said they would be looked into.

“This is a matter of grave national security concern that is receiving the highest priority attention,” Ramaphosa said in a statement, committing to further action on his return.

Mchunu’s African National Congress (ANC) party said the claims must be handled with “urgency and seriousness”.

Democratic Alliance, which has stepped up calls for Ramaphosa to remove government ministers accused of corruption, demanded an urgent debate in parliament.

“These disturbing allegations of corruption, political interference, and malfeasance at the very top of South Africa’s law enforcement and national security infrastructure must be investigated immediately.

“It is deeply harrowing to hear of reports by the Provincial Commissioner of alleged political and criminal interference within the SAPS’ police killings task team.

“We demand an investigation, and the DA will get answers,” the DA said in statement.

The EFF praised Mkhwanazi’s bravery and called for Mchunu and Sibiya’s suspension and a parliamentary inquiry.

“Mkhwanazi exposed a criminal syndicate embedded in the police, judiciary and political leadership, shielding drug cartels, sabotaging investigations and using SAPS contracts to fund ANC political campaigns. Over 120 case dockets were removed and the political killings task team was compromised on orders linked to Mchunu and enacted by Sibiya.

“Since 2018 the task team successfully prosecuted political killings, securing 120 convictions and 1,800 years in jail time until their work began exposing high-level corruption,” said the EFF.

Rise Mzansi demanded answers from President Cyril Ramaphosa and Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola, warning that internal SAPS conflicts threaten public safety.

ActionSA called the situation a deepening crisis and has requested a parliamentary debate.

MK Party urged Mkhwanazi to file criminal charges against Mchunu and Sibiya within 24 hours, demanding immediate arrests based on prima facie evidence.

“The evidence implicating Minister Mchunu is serious and calls for the law to take its course. No one is above the law and any further inaction will only confirm suspicions of institutional protection and political interference.

“Given the weight of the allegations, the arrest must be carried out without any further delay. The integrity of our democratic institutions and the safety of our citizens should always be paramount. Any efforts that hint at sabotaging justice and truth, regardless of the source, must be eradicated,” the MK party said.

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