South Africa's Police Minister Faces Serious Allegations of Criminal Gang Ties

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has been accused by KwaZulu-Natal police chief Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi of having links to criminal gangs and receiving financial support from a corrupt businessman. Mchunu denies the allegations, which have drawn concern from President Cyril Ramaphosa regarding national security.

South Africa's Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu, is currently facing serious allegations connecting him to criminal gangs, as well as claims of interfering in police investigations into politically motivated murders. The accusations surfaced during a press briefing led by KwaZulu-Natal police chief Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who stated that Mchunu was financially supported by an allegedly corrupt businessman to advance his political activities.

Minister Mchunu has firmly rejected these allegations, describing them as "wild" and baseless. The situation has escalated to a matter of grave national security interest, drawing the attention of President Cyril Ramaphosa, who emphasized the need for thorough investigation.

Gen Mkhwanazi recounts a series of events suggesting that Mchunu orchestrated the disbandment of a specialized task force created in 2018 to probe the murders of politicians, particularly focusing on those in KwaZulu-Natal. He pointed out that the task force had uncovered connections to powerful figures—including politicians, police officials, and business tycoons associated with drug trafficking—motivating Mchunu's decision to dissolve the unit.

Earlier this year, Mchunu claimed the task force was no longer effective, despite numerous unresolved cases still pending. Gen Mkhwanazi alleged that a total of 121 case files were removed from the unit under Mchunu's directive, without the national police commissioner's approval. He noted that as a result, no investigative work has taken place on these cases since March, despite prior instructions for arrests on certain dockets.

Further complicating matters, Gen Mkhwanazi implicated Mchunu's alleged ties to Vusimuzi Matlala, a businessman who had a lucrative contract with the police until his recent arrest for attempted murder. He produced text messages and documented transactions that purportedly demonstrate financial exchanges between Matlala and Mchunu, raising questions about the integrity of leadership within the South African Police Service (SAPS).

This emerging scandal comes on the heels of the recent arrest of criminal intelligence chief Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo, along with six other individuals, over fraud and corruption investigations linked to misconduct in the police agency. The ramifications of these allegations are vast, pointing to potential systemic issues within South Africa's law enforcement landscape. General Masemola has pledged to address these serious claims in the coming days.