Ramaphosa suspends police minister amid corruption allegations

Ramaphosa Suspends Police Minister Over Corruption Allegations

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu following explosive allegations of interference in criminal investigations and collusion with organized crime networks.

The suspension was announced on Tuesday after General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, one of the country’s top police officials, publicly accused Mchunu and Deputy Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya of obstructing investigations into politically linked killings and disbanding a key crime-fighting unit.

“In order for the Commission to execute its functions effectively, I have decided to put the Minister of Police Mr. Senzo Mchunu on a leave of absence with immediate effect,” Ramaphosa said in a televised statement. “The Minister has undertaken to give his full cooperation to the Commission to enable it to work properly.”

A Crisis in Law Enforcement

The move comes amid increasing scrutiny of South Africa’s law enforcement institutions, which critics say have been plagued by political interference, internal sabotage, and deepening mistrust from the public. The allegations strike at the heart of the country’s security apparatus and have triggered renewed concerns over the independence and integrity of the police.

General Mkhwanazi’s testimony before Parliament shocked the nation. He accused Mchunu and Sibiya of systematically dismantling a special crime unit that had been investigating a series of politically motivated killings and high-level corruption cases. He alleged the disbandment was designed to shield politicians and criminal syndicates from prosecution.

Mkhwanazi said the unit’s closure had stalled investigations and allowed several suspects with political ties to evade arrest. He also claimed that intelligence reports warning of criminal infiltration into political ranks were ignored or buried by senior officials.

Commission of Inquiry

In response to the growing scandal, President Ramaphosa announced the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the extent of political interference within the police service.

“The Commission will investigate the role of current or former senior officials in certain institutions who may have aided or abetted the alleged criminal activity; or failed to act on credible intelligence or internal warnings; or benefited financially or politically from a syndicate’s operations,” Ramaphosa explained.

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The President appointed Professor Firoz Cachalia as acting Minister of Police, a move aimed at ensuring continuity and stabilizing the leadership of the embattled department.

Cachalia, a respected academic and former political advisor, is expected to lead reforms and assist the Commission in accessing crucial documentation and cooperation from within the police force.

Political Fallout

Opposition parties have condemned Ramaphosa’s decision to merely suspend Mchunu, calling it insufficient and politically expedient. The Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) issued separate statements demanding Mchunu’s immediate dismissal and the prosecution of any officials found to be complicit.

“Putting him on ‘leave of absence’ is a half-measure,” said DA leader John Steenhuisen. “If the allegations are as serious as they appear, then a mere suspension will not reassure South Africans who are losing faith in the state’s ability to fight corruption.”

The EFF went further, accusing Ramaphosa of “protecting political allies” and allowing the rot in law enforcement to fester. “The President must show real leadership and stop playing politics with national security,” read the party’s statement.

Meanwhile, civil society groups and anti-corruption activists have called for transparency in the Commission’s work and warned that the inquiry must not become yet another slow-moving, inconclusive investigation.

Public Confidence at Stake

The allegations against Mchunu are the latest blow to South Africa’s battle against corruption and organized crime, which have flourished in the shadows of weakened institutions and internal government infighting.

As political violence, contract killings, and gang-linked corruption continue to grip parts of the country, many fear that South Africa’s fragile democracy is at risk unless swift and decisive action is taken.

“This is about more than one minister,” said a Johannesburg-based governance expert. “It’s about restoring trust in our institutions and the rule of law.”

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