Ramaphosa's Inaction: Is Mchunu Untouchable?

President Cyril Ramaphosa must just fire Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, instead of keeping him on special leave while enjoying salary and ministerial benefits at the expense of taxpayers, said Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA). 

This was in response to Ramaphosa leaving out Mchunu when he announced that action would be taken against government employees, including police officers, implicated in the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry. 

“The president must make a decision because he cannot keep him on paid leave all the time,” said OUTA Chief Executive Officer Wayne Duvenage.

He said the fact that the decision on Mchunu will wait for the final report, since there are still more questions he should answer to the commission, might create an impression that Ramaphosa was protecting him.

“The fact that this minister has already compromised himself by interfering in operational matters is enough for the president to dismiss him.

“There is far too much smoke and questions for someone who needs to head up an entity that is rotten and needs extremely strong discipline and leadership to fix the SAPS,” Duvenage said.  

The commission, in which retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga is assisted by Advocate Sesi Baloyi, SC, and Advocate Sandile Khumalo, SC, is probing allegations of criminality, political interference, and corruption in the criminal justice system.

The commission, which Ramaphosa established on July 30, 2025, to complete its investigation by March 1, submitted its interim report to him on December 17, 2025.

Ramaphosa has since extended the commission’s deadline to June 30.

After receiving the report from Madlanga, Ramaphosa released a statement saying 14 current and former officials of the South African Police Service (SAPS), Ekurhuleni Metro Police Department (EMPD), and Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality (EMM), who were implicated during the proceedings, would now be subjected to criminal investigation. 

The statement said the commission had found prima facie evidence of wrongdoing against the 14 suspects and recommended that they should be investigated by the SAPS, Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), or EMM.

However, without mentioning Mchunu as one of the suspects to be investigated, Ramaphosa directed the Acting Minister of Police, Professor Firoz Cachalia, and National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola to constitute a special investigations task team to investigate. 

When asked what actions were recommended against Mchunu, the commission’s Jeremy Michaels said the commission does not speak on behalf of the Presidency. 

Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, did not respond to questions sent to him via WhatsApp and emails on Friday morning. 

However, during a live interview with SABC’s Clement Manyathela Show this week, Magwenya accused those who want immediate action against Mchunu of being over fixated over just one person while the president was already acting against implicated people.

He said when it comes to Mchunu, the country’s Constitution calls for people facing allegations to be dealt with in a fair manner.

“And that is what the president believes in, and he would act when he needs to act against Minister Mchunu.

“You can hold the view that he must act now, he holds the view that he would act once the commission has concluded its work because he believes that Minister Mchunu must answer to those allegations and that at the end of the commission’s work, the commission would have findings against Minister Mchunu that he (Ramaphosa) can then reference in his action,” said Magwenya. 

University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) political analyst Sakhile Hadebe said an honourable person facing Mchunu’s circumstances would resign. 

“I doubt he would; he would hold on to the last minute and still canvas for another office position,” said Radebe.

Another political analyst, Susan Booysen, said Ramaphosa might be concerned that Mchunu’s case was sensitive within the ANC. 

“He merely wants to make sure that he has everything in place since Mchunu is a senior leader.

“He wants to make sure that people who are going to investigate him have all the necessary authority because, although Mchunu is suspended, his influence within the department (of police) stretches very far and wide, and there can be repercussions against people who are acting against Mchunu,” said Booysen.

She said a delay in taking action might create an impression that Ramaphosa was protecting Mchunu, “maybe because they are close personally”.

“Because this is so much in a public space, and there is no hiding any action, I think Ramaphosa is at this stage choosing to be on the cautious side, which is one of the criticisms that he often faces that he is too cautious on multiple issues,” said Booysen.

Another UKZN political analyst, Zakhele Ndlovu, said that despite the clear prima facie evidence having been established against Mchunu and other implicated people, Ramaphosa seems to be selective by picking on the small fish. 

“What is stopping Ramaphosa from sacking Mchunu and saving taxpayers' money on a rogue politician? 

“We know that Mchunu is Ramaphosa's important political ally. Mchunu was instrumental in getting the CR17 campaign the support it needed in KZN,” Ndlovu said.

bongani.hans@inl.co.za