South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has suspended Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu following explosive allegations of interference and collusion with criminal syndicates.
The claims were made by General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, a senior police official, who accused Mchunu and Deputy Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya of obstructing sensitive investigations and dismantling key crime-fighting units.
Announcing the decision, President Ramaphosa stated that the suspension would allow for an independent commission of inquiry to carry out its work without interference.
“To ensure the Commission can operate effectively, I have placed Minister Mchunu on a leave of absence with immediate effect,” he said.
“The Minister has committed to cooperating fully with the inquiry.”
Professor Firoz Cachalia has been appointed as acting Minister of Police during the investigation.
General Mkhwanazi also claimed that the disbanded unit was probing a series of politically motivated killings, allegedly linked to powerful criminal networks operating within political circles.
President Ramaphosa detailed the commission’s mandate, saying it would investigate the involvement of senior officials—past and present—who may have facilitated or ignored criminal activity, failed to act on intelligence, or personally benefited from syndicate operations.
Opposition parties have slammed the President’s response as inadequate, arguing that a leave of absence does not go far enough and are calling for Mchunu’s immediate dismissal.
