Senzo Mchunu rejects ‘first-ever’ corruption claims at Madlanga Commission

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, currently on special leave, rejected allegations linking him to criminal cartels, telling the Madlanga Commission that he only heard that he his corrupt on July 6 briefing.

Testifying before the commission on Tuesday, Mchunu said he had never faced corruption accusations before KZN Police Commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s public claims on July 6.

“I have never been accused of corruption, not once,” Mchunu said, opening his testimony, adding that “This is the first time that I get accused of such, as alleged particularly on July 6”.

Flanked by his legal team, including SC Adv. Thembeka Ngcukaitobi, Mchunu, delivered a firm denial of any wrongdoing.

Mkhwanazi had publicly alleged that Mchunu was influenced by criminal syndicates to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).

According to the provincial commissioner, the group feared the task team was closing in on them after raids on alleged cartel members Katiso “KT” Molefe and Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala on December 6 last year.

But Mchunu told the commission he had no knowledge of any such operation.

“I was never briefed about any raid or any operation resembling what can be known as the December 6 raid,” he testified.

He also pushed back against claims that dissolving the PKTT was improper, arguing it was always a temporary, non-budgeted intervention.

“Government projects are time-bound; they don’t run indefinitely,” he said, adding that the task team could not co-exist with other specialised units without creating costly duplication.

According to him, its disbandment would have occurred regardless — possibly as early as 2024.

The allegations have triggered a political storm within the police service, pitting the minister against one of the country’s most senior provincial commanders.

Mchunu is expected to continue his testimony on Thursday.

kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za

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