South Africa’s Police Minister Denies Links to Criminal Gangs After Explosive Accusations

KwaZulu-Natal police chief accuses Senzo Mchunu of interfering in political murder investigations and accepting funds from businessman tied to crime syndicates

South Africa’s Police Minister Senzo Mchunu is facing serious allegations of corruption and criminal collusion, following public claims made by KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

At a press briefing on Sunday, Gen Mkhwanazi accused Mchunu of receiving financial backing from an allegedly corrupt businessman to support his political career, and of interfering with investigations into politically motivated killings in the province.

In a strongly worded statement, President Cyril Ramaphosa described the claims as a “grave national security concern” and said the matter was receiving top-level attention.

Task Force Disbanded

Gen Mkhwanazi detailed how a special task force, established in 2018 to probe political assassinations, was recently dismantled under what he termed “orchestrated” efforts. He said the unit had uncovered links between prominent politicians, police officials, business figures, and a major drug cartel—leading to pressure to shut it down.

When Mchunu dissolved the unit earlier this year, he claimed it was “not adding value,” even though many cases remained unsolved.

Gen Mkhwanazi countered that 121 active case files were removed from the unit under direct orders from Mchunu, without clearance from the National Police Commissioner, Gen Fannie Masemola. Five of the cases had pending arrest instructions.

“These dockets have been sitting untouched at the national head office since March,” Mkhwanazi said.

Links to Controversial Businessman

Further deepening the controversy, Gen Mkhwanazi alleged that Vusimuzi Matlala, a businessman with a history of police contracts, financially supported Mchunu’s political ambitions. Matlala’s contract was abruptly terminated after his arrest for attempted murder in May.

To back his claims, Mkhwanazi presented screenshots of messages and a payment transaction allegedly from Matlala to the police minister.

Broader Corruption Probe

The accusations come amid a broader scandal involving South Africa’s crime intelligence leadership. Last month, Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo, the now-suspended head of criminal intelligence, was arrested on fraud and corruption charges. He and six others are under investigation for abusing intelligence funds and for improper appointments within the South African Police Service (SAPS).

National Police Commissioner Gen Masemola has promised to address the allegations when he announces the new interim head of crime intelligence later this week.

Minister Mchunu has firmly denied the accusations, dismissing them as “wild and baseless”, while reiterating his commitment to transparency and lawful conduct.

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