Could This be the End of Senzo Mchunu's Political Career?

(The Post News)– President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on an immediate leave amid serious crime allegations and connections against him. Mchunu made headlines last week following a media briefing by KZN Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, which exposed allegations of corruption and links Mchunu with organized crime.

While addressing the nation on Sunday, 13 July, Ramaphosa placed Mchunu on leave and established a judicial commission of inquiry that will investigate the allegations made by Mkwanazi. Ramaphosa said that the commission will be chaired by acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga with the assistance of Advocate Sesi Baloyi SC and Advocate Sandile Khumalo SC.

He added that the Commission will also look into claims such as the facilitation of organized crime, the suppression or manipulation of investigations, the promotion of criminal actions by law enforcement leadership, the commission of any other criminal offenses, and the intimidation, victimization, or targeted removal of whistleblowers or officials who resist criminal influence.

Mkwanazi revealed that Mchunu is connected with criminal gangs and has interfered in police investigations into politically motivated murders. Amongst other things, he claimed that Mchunu had assisted political members who are involved in political killings to disband the task force that was set to investigate political killings in 2018.

When the task team that was sent to investigate political killings was dissolved, Mchunu said it had many unresolved cases, and it was not adding any value to the province. According to Mkhwanazi, 121 cases were removed without the instruction of National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola. A special task team was established in response to the 2018 murder of ANC activist Musawenkosi “Qashana” Mchunu. With support from a presidential task force, the team employed a strategy combining prosecution and intelligence to tackle political violence. By 2025, they had investigated over 600 politically motivated cases, arrested 436 suspects, recovered 156 firearms (55 linked to political crimes), and secured convictions resulting in over 1,800 years of prison time across more than 100 cases.

Moreover, Mkwanazi uncovered the link between high-profile individuals, particularly politicians, and businesspeople tied to a drug cartel syndicate. Some syndicate members, Mkwanazi says, are the Police Service, the metro police, and Correctional Services. Meanwhile, Mchunu has denied crime and corruption allegations against him. He says he supports the decision by Ramaphosa to place him on special leave. Mchunu took to social media X to deny the allegations; he says he is ready to respond to them.