With tensions mounting over serious allegations within South Africa’s police leadership, President Cyril Ramaphosa made a decisive move that’s stirred both support and speculation.
By placing Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on special leave, the president has taken what the ANC describes as a necessary step toward accountability and transparency.
Party Praises President’s ‘Bold and Responsible’ Move
Speaking with SABC News, ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said the ruling party fully supports Ramaphosa’s decision.
She called it a “bold and responsible” response to the unsettling claims recently made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
“We believe this step allows space for a fair and credible investigation,” Bhengu-Motsiri explained. “It’s vital we get to the bottom of this – not just for political clarity, but to ensure that South Africans are truly protected and that our law enforcement agencies are doing their job according to the Constitution.”
Ramaphosa Responds to Explosive Claims
President Ramaphosa addressed the nation on Sunday night, July 13, following a week of mounting pressure.
The shock came when Commissioner Mkhwanazi publicly accused Minister Mchunu and Deputy National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya of meddling in high-stakes investigations.
According to Mkhwanazi, the two officials interfered with the work of the Political Killings Task Team, a unit that had investigated more than 600 politically motivated murders and secured over 100 convictions.
Interference in Political Crime Unit Sparks Alarm
Perhaps most concerning was Mkhwanazi’s claim that the task team was disbanded without any official approval from national or provincial police leadership.
He warned that this sudden disbandment derailed critical investigations into political violence and organised crime, leaving victims and families in limbo.
His remarks sparked immediate public outcry and calls for clarity from the highest levels of government.
The implications, if proven true, suggest deliberate obstruction of justice and a deeply troubling misuse of authority.
What’s Next for the Minister and the Investigation?
With Minister Mchunu now on special leave, the focus shifts to what a full investigation might uncover.
The ANC has stressed that the process must be thorough and impartial, and they’ve called on the relevant authorities to act with urgency.
Meanwhile, public debate is heating up.
Some believe placing Mchunu on leave is only the beginning and are calling for stronger disciplinary action or even criminal charges if misconduct is proven.