Allegations of Criminal Gang Ties Rock South Africa's Police Ministry

The police minister's alleged connections to criminal gangs and interference with police investigations have prompted reactions from President Cyril Ramaphosa and KwaZulu-Natal’s police chief, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who confirmed explosive claims regarding financial support from a suspected corrupt businessman.

South Africa's Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu, is engulfed in a storm of controversy following serious allegations asserting his connections to criminal gangs and interference in murder investigations that carry political implications. These astonishing claims were presented by the KwaZulu-Natal police chief, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, during a recent press briefing, asserting that Mchunu received financial backing from a businessman suspected of corruption to aid his political pursuits.

Responding to these "wild allegations," Mchunu has firmly denied any wrongdoing, while President Cyril Ramaphosa has labeled the accusations as "grave national security concerns" warranting immediate and thorough investigation.

In his detailed account, General Mkhwanazi outlined a troubling sequence of events that he suggests led to the systematic disbandment of a task force established in 2018, dedicated to exploring the politically motivated killings predominantly in KwaZulu-Natal. He claims the investigations carried out by the task force identified links to several high-profile figures, encompassing politicians, police officials, and business associates affiliated with drug cartels, which ultimately resulted in its disbandment under Mchunu's direction.

Earlier this year, while asserting the unit was not adding value, Mchunu ordered its dissolution despite numerous unresolved cases. According to General Mkhwanazi, approximately 121 case files were removed from the task force based on Mchunu's direction, bypassing necessary authorization from the national police commissioner, General Fannie Masemola. He stressed that these files, remaining stagnant since March, previously held orders for arrest on five cases.

Adding fuel to the fire, Mkhwanazi alleged that Mchunu maintained a connection with Vusimuzi Matlala, a controversial businessman who had previously received a lucrative contract from the police department, now terminated following Matlala's arrest for attempted murder in May. The police chief backed his claims by sharing text messages and payment evidence purportedly linking Matlala to Mchunu's financial support.

In light of these revelations, General Masemola has promised to address the issues raised later in the week when he reveals the new temporary head of crime intelligence. Meanwhile, the situation escalated with the recent arrest of criminal intelligence chief Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo, alongside six others, on fraud and corruption charges tied to alleged misuse of intelligence funds within the South African Police Service (SAPS).