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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu in response to grave accusations from General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, a senior police official.
Mkhwanazi alleged that Mchunu and Deputy Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya tampered with critical investigations and had ties to criminal syndicates. The suspension follows rising concerns about political meddling in core law enforcement institutions.
President Ramaphosa announced the decision publicly, stating, “In order for the Commission to execute its functions effectively, I have decided to put the Minister of Police Mr Senzo Mchunu on a leave of absence with immediate effect. The Minister has undertaken to give his full cooperation to the Commission to enable it to work properly.”
Ramaphosa has named Professor Firoz Cachalia as acting Police Minister. Meanwhile, Mkhwanazi claimed that Mchunu and Sibiya dismantled a key crime-fighting unit that had been investigating a series of politically motivated killings allegedly connected to organised crime groups.
The President also outlined the scope of the inquiry. “The Commission will investigate the role of current or former senior officials in certain institutions who may have aided or abetted the alleged criminal activity; or failed to act on credible intelligence or internal warnings; or benefited financially or politically from a syndicate’s operations,” Ramaphosa said.
Opposition parties are criticising the President for not taking stronger action, arguing that merely placing Mchunu on leave “falls short of accountability” and calling for his immediate dismissal instead.
