South Africa's Ramaphosa removes police minister

14/7/2025 6:10

South African

President Cyril Ramaphosa placed police minister Senzo Mchunu on

immediate leave of absence on Sunday, following accusations by a

top police official that he had colluded with a criminal

syndicate and interfered in high-profile investigations.



Mchunu denied the allegations by Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, police

commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal province, at a media briefing last

Sunday. He said the accusations were baseless and in a statement

issued by his spokesperson last week said he was committed to

upholding the rule of law.



Ramaphosa, whose rise to the highest office was built on

promises to fight corruption, has been under pressure to act

swiftly as political parties and citizens said the allegations

called into question the integrity of the criminal justice

system.



Investors have for years expressed concern over rampant

crime that the World Bank estimates costs South Africa an

estimated 10% of gross domestic product each year.



"These allegations therefore call for an urgent and

comprehensive investigation," Ramaphosa said in a public address

which was carried by the public broadcaster and private TV

stations, adding he would establish a judicial commission of

inquiry for this purpose.



Ramaphosa said he will appoint law professor Firoz

Cachalia as acting minister of police.



Mchunu is a senior figure in Ramaphosa's African National

Congress (ANC) party, and political analysts have said he could

run for a leadership position at the ANC's next elective

conference in 2027.



Citing digital evidence such as WhatsApp messages,

Mkhwanazi's allegations included that Mchunu had disbanded a

police unit tasked with investigating politically motivated

killings to protect politicians, police officers and other

people linked to a criminal syndicate.



Mkhwanazi said more than 100 case files were taken away from

the political killings task team and have not been investigated

further since.



The Democratic Alliance party, the ANC's main coalition

partner, called for a parliamentary inquiry into the allegations

against Mchunu. At least one opposition party has called for his

suspension.