‘Ramaphosa should ask Mchunu to step aside’

Political Analyst, Professor Bheki Mngomezulu says, ideally, President Cyril Ramaphosa should ask Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to step aside temporarily pending the investigation into the authenticity of allegations against him.

This comes after KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi accused Mchunu of being in constant contact with individuals linked to criminal activities.

The president earlier said all those who are proven to have done wrong in the concerns raised by Mkhwanazi will be dealt thoroughly in terms of the country’s laws.

Mkhwanazi also accused some senior police officials of being involved in corruption.

Mchunu has since dismissed the allegations as baseless.

Mngomezulu says Ramaphosa must restore public confidence in the police ahead of the local government elections next year.

“The president is in a compromised position because there have been other ministers who have been implicated in wrongdoing and no action was taken. Now, the question becomes how do you then take serious action against Mchunu when you have failed to do the same when other ministers were implicated in wrongdoing? That becomes a problem, but under normal circumstances what you need to do as the president, to protect your minister, you suspend the minister pending the investigation and then the investigation will either clear the minister or will confirm what Mkhwanazi said,” says Mngomezulu.

Mkhwanazi Accusations | President promises swift action

The KZN police commissioner specifically named Mchunu, Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection Lieutenant General Sibiya, contractor Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, and Mchunu’s alleged associate Brown Mogotsi.

He claimed their actions undermined investigations and amounted to defeating the ends of justice.

Mkhwanazi further alleged that crucial dockets were removed from the team, some implicating individuals with political and financial influence.

INFOGRAPHIC: Web of individuals implicated by Lt Gen Mkhwanazi

ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula says the party expects Mchunu to explain himself before it, following allegations against high-ranking police officials.

“The first point of call is the president – the person who has given him the ministry of police. South Africans are in conversation about that matter since yesterday and we are not standing here saying, ‘the minister must not be looked at, he must not account’. Why would you be a minister if you don’t account? Why would we be in government if we don’t want to be held accountable? And the minister’s statement also is very responsible because he said that as much as he dismissed what Mkhwanazi said but he equally subjects himself to the process of accountability,” says Mbalula.