President Cyril Ramaphosa announces judicial commission of inquiry, Mchunu put on leave of absence

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday announced that Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has been placed on leave of absence as a judicial commission of inquiry will be established to investigate claims by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

During a media briefing held on July 6, he claimed that Mchunu and senior police leadership are linked to a criminal syndicate with ties to drug cartels.

On Sunday, Ramaphosa said that South Africans were concerned about corruption and the rise of criminality in the country.

"The allegations made in this media briefing raise serious concerns around the constitution, the rule of law and national security," Ramaphosa said.

"These allegations, if proven true, threaten to undermine the confidence of South Africans in the ability of the South African Police Service to protect them and to effectively fight crime and corruption."

Ramaphosa said the Commission would have the power to refer matters for immediate criminal investigation and urgent decisions on prosecution.

"In order for the Commission to execute its functions effectively, I have decided to put the Minister of Police Mr Senzo Mchunu on a leave of absence with immediate effect," Ramaphosa said on Sunday.

"The minister has undertaken to give his full cooperation to the Commission to enable it to do its work."

The enquiry will be chaired by acting deputy chief justice Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, and will be assisted by Advocate Sesi Baloyi SC and Advocate Sandile Khumalo SC.

Ramaphosa also announced that he appointed Professor Firoz Cachalia as acting Minister of Police.

"Professor Cachalia is currently a professor of law at the University of the Witwatersrand and is the chairperson of the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council. He previously served as an MEC of Community Safety in Gauteng," he said.

Following the explosive allegations, there’s been increasing pressure on Ramaphosa to act ahead of his address.

Opposition parties, including the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Democratic Alliance, MK Party, ActionSA and IFP, have called for Mchunu to be fired.

Mkhwanazi accused Mchunu of disbanding the Political Killings Task Team in March, effectively withdrawing 121 active dockets, many linked to politically motivated killings. 

He presented WhatsApp messages, South African Police Service (SAPS) documents, and cellphone records, alleging a coordinated effort to dismantle the unit.

He also implicated Brown Mogotsi, a “comrade” of Mchunu, in communicating with suspects, including businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, who secured a R360 million SAPS contract in 2024. 

The contract has since been canceled. 

According to Mkhwanazi, Mogotsi informed Matlala of the unit’s disbandment and that SAPS crime detection head Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya had taken over the dockets.

Mchunu, in a December 2024 letter to National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Fannie Masemola, claimed the unit had “outlived its usefulness.”

However, Masemola later denied authorising its closure.

IOL