Pressure is mounting on Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to take a leave of absence as political parties, civil society organisations, and ordinary South Africans rally behind calls for accountability following bombshell allegations of corruption and political interference in the South African Police Service (SAPS).
KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi set the nation alight on Sunday, 6 July, when he accused Mchunu and Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection, Shadrack Sibiya, of actively obstructing high-profile criminal investigations—most notably by dismantling the elite Political Killings Task Team. Mkhwanazi said the unit was disbanded without consultation and its politically sensitive dockets transferred to Sibiya’s office, where they have allegedly been “neutralised.”
“These actions constitute political interference of the highest order and are a direct threat to the rule of law,” Mkhwanazi said during a press briefing. “This kind of conduct undermines the entire South African Criminal Justice System.”
Mkhwanazi painted a grim picture of a criminal justice system under siege, alleging that organised crime had infiltrated state institutions and now operates with protection from within government. According to the commissioner, the now-disbanded Political Killings Task Team was targeted because it began exposing links between organised crime networks and senior government officials.
The revelations have prompted a political firestorm.
IFP Calls for Commission of Inquiry
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to establish an independent Commission of Inquiry, chaired by a retired judge, to investigate the allegations. The party argued that SAPS cannot be trusted to investigate itself as it is implicated in both the allegations and their cover-up.
“The IFP calls for Mchunu to be placed on special leave until such time that the Commission has concluded its work,” said IFP national spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa. “During this period, Mchunu should subject himself to the due investigative processes. The war against crime will not be won and South Africans will not be safe if the fish is rotten at the head, as alleged.”
The party recommended that the inquiry be given 60 days to deliver its findings and recommendations.
EFF Demands Parliamentary Accountability
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) joined the chorus, hailing Mkhwanazi for what they described as “bravery” in confronting entrenched criminality within the state.
EFF national spokesperson Sinawo Thambo said the party had written to the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron, demanding an urgent in-person meeting with Mchunu.
“We hope that Chairperson Cameron, who often acts as SAPS spokesperson during committee meetings and blocks transparency, does not force us to seek intervention from the Chair of Chairs,” said Thambo.
DA Pushes for Urgent Parliamentary Debate
The Democratic Alliance (DA) also entered the fray, calling for an urgent debate in Parliament on the allegations. DA MP Ian Cameron, who chairs the committee, said: “We will never win the war on crime until SAPS is free from political interference. We demand an immediate investigation.”
President Ramaphosa Responds from BRICS Summit
Speaking from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he is attending the BRICS Leaders’ Summit, President Ramaphosa acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations, promising that they would receive “the highest priority attention.”
“This is a matter of grave national security concern,” said Ramaphosa in a late-night statement. “The integrity of our security services must be safeguarded, and the rule of law must prevail.”
He warned, however, against a “public spectacle” of accusation and counter-accusation, saying it could erode public confidence. Ramaphosa said a full response would be issued upon his return to South Africa.
The Track Record of the Political Killings Task Team
Since its establishment in 2018, the Political Killings Task Team had become a cornerstone in the fight against politically motivated violence in KwaZulu-Natal and beyond. The unit handled more than 600 complex cases involving murder, attempted murder, intimidation, and conspiracy.
Investigations by the unit led to the arrest and prosecution of hundreds of suspects, including 35 police officers implicated in obstructing justice. More than 120 individuals were convicted across over 100 cases, resulting in life sentences and cumulative prison terms of more than 1,800 years. The team also seized over 150 illegal firearms, many of which were definitively linked to political killings through forensic analysis.
Mkhwanazi said that as the unit’s success grew, it drew the ire of corrupt networks within both government and law enforcement—ultimately leading to its disbandment.
SAPS: Business As Usual
Despite the turmoil, SAPS maintains that daily policing operations remain unaffected.
SAPS national spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the National Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, would announce the appointment of an Acting Divisional Commissioner for Crime Intelligence this week.
“Daily crime combatting operations and policing at stations and other SAPS service points continue across the country,” said Mathe. “The men and women in blue remain hard at work at every corner of this country to serve and protect all people living in South Africa.”
Mathe added that SAPS’s constitutional mandate to prevent, combat and investigate crime remains intact and unaffected by the political controversy.
“A detailed media briefing will be held in due course to provide further updates,” she said.
National Reckoning Looms
The Mkhwanazi revelations have struck a nerve in a country long plagued by violent crime, political assassinations, and perceptions of a police force riddled with corruption. As South Africans await President Ramaphosa’s return and further clarity from law enforcement, one thing is certain: the demand for transparency and accountability in the SAPS has reached a boiling point.
Whether Minister Mchunu steps aside or clings to his position could prove a defining moment in the fight to restore integrity within South Africa’s criminal justice system.
