Alleged political plot against beleaguered Police Minister Senzo Mchunu revealed

Two KwaZulu-Natal senior ANC national executive committee members have been accused by supporters of embattled Police Minister Senzo Mchunu of orchestrating a political plot.

The alleged plot aims to have Mchunu dismissed from the cabinet and prevent his election to the party's top seven in 2027.

Two weeks ago, provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi dropped a bombshell, accusing Mchunu of interfering in police operations to shield underworld syndicate criminals from prosecution.

This accusation came as Mchunu was campaigning for the ANC in Vryheid, northern KwaZulu-Natal, for a by-election.

Many saw this campaign as a political move ahead of the 2027 party elective conference. The by-election was ultimately won by the IFP last week.

Speaking anonymously, a supporter of Mchunu argued that it was implausible for him to have sought to protect businessman Vusi ‘Cat’ Matlala regarding a tender awarded in 2021.

The backer highlighted that Mchunu was leading a different department at the time and, furthermore, initiated an investigation into the tender's awarding, subsequently cancelling it.

The backer questioned, “This tender was awarded before Minister Mchunu joined the Police Portfolio, how can the Minister institute investigation and subsequently cancel it if they are friends?”

He said Mchunu’s team has picked up information that the two NEC members had a meeting in Durban with a leader of the opposition party which is pushing for Mchunu’s dismissal from his ministerial position.

He further stated that the NEC members are also against the commission because they fear it might unearth their corruption. which is linked to the R360 million tender which was awarded to Matlala in Tembisa hospital.

“We know they have been holding secret meetings aimed at derailing the current commission of inquiry. In these confidential discussions, an alarm was raised that allowing the commission to proceed would likely expose the true perpetrators behind a series of corruption scandals other than Minister Senzo Mchunu, who is now being used as a scapegoat.

The covert plan appears to involve coordinated efforts to pressure the President into dismissing Minister Mchunu in the wake of his bold steps to clean up corruption within top police ranks — an operation which led to the arrest of their close associates within the police top ranks. These claims by Mchunu backers come after Umkhonto weSizwe Party has filed an urgent court application in the Constitutional Court to stop Madlanga Commission from resuming its work.

Making his first public appearance in his home town of eMpangeni north of the province, Mchunu addressed a Mandela Day commemoration which was organised by the newly appointed ANC's Musa Dladla regional task team.

He received a warm welcome and people shouted Mayihlome ihlasele (let's prepare to attack) as he moved to the podium. In the veiled reference to Mkhwanazi, Mchunu said he was not wearing a camouflage uniform and he had no gun. 

Mchunu was placed on leave by President Ramaphosa last week who also announced a Judicial Commission that will be chaired by Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga.

willem.phungula@inl.co.za