WATCH | Steenhuisen warns of ‘underworld protection’ at top levels

DA

Cape Town – DA leader John Steenhuisen has backed KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s serious allegations against senior law enforcement officials, including Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, accusing them of interfering in police investigations.

Steenhuisen said Mkhwanazi is credible and called for a full parliamentary inquiry.

“Like all South Africans, I was completely shocked by these allegations. I’ve known Lieutenant-General Mkhwanazi for many years. I’m a KZN resident and citizen as well,  and I’ve known him for his work there.

“I don’t think he’s somebody who makes wild, unsubstantiated allegations. And so I regard the allegations that he has made as incredibly serious,” Steenhuisen said during an interview with Newzroom Afrika.

He added: “And just think about the implications of this – top politicians and top police officials are accused of colluding with organised crime. This is a very serious allegation, and it frankly requires more action than what we’ve seen to date… President Cyril Ramaphosa set a very high bar for his Cabinet when he sacked Andrew Whitfield for travelling abroad without permission. I would at least think that this requires a full parliamentary inquiry through the committee. I think Lieutenant-General Mkhwanazi should be given and afforded the opportunity to come to parliament and set out these allegations.

“But then I think that there needs to be a full and thorough investigation. It cannot be that we in South Africa are suffering with a huge crime problem and have these allegation that underworld kingpins are being protected by the very people who should be at the forefront of putting them in jail. There’s no country in the world that would tolerate this, nor should there be a government that tolerates this. And so the sooner the situation is clarified, the better it’s going to be… I think the people of South Africa are deeply shaken by these allegations.”

Several political parties have supported Mkhwanazi and demanded the suspension of Mchunu and Deputy Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya.

National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza has tasked three parliamentary committees to investigate.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has prioritised the matter, urging discipline and warning against public infighting that could erode trust in law enforcement.

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