Ramaphosa made correct decision on Mchunu’s special leave: Casac

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu presents the quarterly crime statistics at GCIS in Pretoria on May 23, 2025.

The Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (Casac) has welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to place Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on a leave of absence.

Ramaphosa made the announcement during his address to the nation last night, where he also confirmed the appointment of a judicial inquiry to investigate allegations of criminal syndicates infiltrating SA’s criminal justice system.

The developments follow explosive claims made last week by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

Casac’s Executive Secretary Lawson Naidoo says, “Establishing a judicial commission of inquiry was absolutely critical that whatever inquiry was established was going to be independent, and I think this one certainly is. It’s obviously the correct call to place the minister on special leave; the minister could not preside over the Ministry of police while this investigation was underway, so that’s the correct decision.”

Naidoo says, “The only concern that I would have is in terms of the time frames, whilst the president did indicate that interim reports would be submitted within three to six months, we don’t know the full lifespan of the commission, how long it’s expected to take. I think the terms of reference as enunciated by the president last night are fairly broad.”

Reaction to Ramaphosa’s response to Mkhwanazi’s allegations: Willem Els & Lawson Naidoo