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[FILE IMAGE]: Lt Gen Mkhwanazi.
Union federation, Cosatu, has joined calls for an urgent, independent commission of inquiry into allegations of corruption involving senior police officials, members of the judiciary and members of correctional services.
This follows allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi implicating Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu and Deputy National Commissioner of Crime Detection, Shadrack Sibiya, among others in organised crime and political interference in police investigations.
Cosatu Parliamentary coordinator, Mathew Parks says this matter needs to dealt with quickly.
“We don’t think parliament is the best option. Parliament is a political institution. It doesn’t have the capacity to deal with issues of serious allegations and criminality and so forth. Our point of view is that the best option is a commission of inquiry led by a judge, appointed by the Constitutional Court or led by a retired judge. But somebody with expertise and the experience, with the capacity to go through evidence, to ask the right questions, to hear evidence and responses and to be grounded upon what does the law say, what does it not say. And to come with a clear recommendation of a way forward. But what we need is to have this matter dealt with quickly because you can’t afford for this to be hanging in the air,” says Parks.
The ATM says it has written to the Public Protector, Kholeka Gcaleka requesting her to investigate political interference, executive misconduct and the orchestrated collapse of the Political Killings’ Task Team under the alleged direction of Minister Senzo Mchunu, as a matter of urgency.
KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, at the weekend alleged that Mchunu was affiliated to persons linked to criminal activities.
“We argue in our letter that the minister’s actions, not only violate constitutional principles of accountability and conflict of interest, but also threaten the credibility of our criminal justice system. That is why we call on the PP, Adv Gcaleka, to drop everything else and focus on this because this is a matter of national security,” ATM Spokesperson, Zama Ntshona explains.
Traditional Leaders Organisation, Contralesa, says President Cyril Ramaphosa must take action against those found to have acted wrongly after being implicated by KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
Wrongdoers must be dealt with: Ramaphosa:
Mkhwanazi told journalists at the weekend that Police Minister Senzo Mchunu had associations with dubious characters and that high ranking police officers were corrupt.
“Contralesa is reeling with shock and disbelief about the serious allegation by Gen Lt General Mkhwanazi, the Provincial Commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal. These allegations are so serious and got a potential of destroying the moral of our police force in this country. We hope the president will focus more on these allegations and not on the whistleblower who is Lt Gen Mkhwanazi. Contralesa calls upon the president to put up a very strong team that will investigate this wrongdoing by some individuals, some politicians, judiciary and even some members of the police force. Harsh actions must be taken against anyone who will be found to be on the other side of the law regardless of that person status or position,” Contralesa President, Kgosi Mathupa Mokoena explains.
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