By: Xolani Khumalo
President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu on a leave of absence with immediate effect, following serious allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
Mkhwanazi accused Minister Mchunu of political interference in police investigations, associations with questionable individuals, and the controversial disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team in KwaZulu-Natal. The task team was established to investigate politically motivated murders in the province, which has long struggled with factional violence linked to intra-party tensions.
Addressing the nation from the Union Buildings on Sunday evening, President Ramaphosa confirmed the decision, stating that it was necessary to allow for a thorough investigation into the claims. In the interim, he has appointed Professor Firoz Cachalia, a constitutional law expert from the University of the Witwatersrand and former MEC for Community Safety in Gauteng, as the acting Minister of Police.
“The integrity of our institutions and the rule of law must be preserved at all costs,” Ramaphosa said. “No one is above scrutiny, and the public must have confidence in the leadership of our law enforcement agencies.”
The Presidency has not yet confirmed whether a formal inquiry or commission will be established, but insiders suggest that the allegations may trigger a broader review of political influence in policing structures, especially in volatile regions like KwaZulu-Natal.
