President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on leave of absence with immediate effect.
The President made the announcements during an address to
the nation on Sunday evening. Ramaphosa has also announced a judicial
commission of inquiry – led by Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga –
into the allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant
General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
During a media briefing last week, Mkhwanazi made several
allegations about an alleged criminal syndicate that has spread into law
enforcement and intelligence services. Mkhwanazi also made allegations against
the Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu, alleging that Mchunu colluded with criminal
elements to disband the Political Killings Task Team based in KwaZulu-Natal.
Mkhwanazi
had also made allegations about the uncovering of a drug cartel, implicating,
amongst others, the judiciary, law enforcement, prosecutors and politicians.
“To address these allegations and the implications of these
allegations, I am establishing a judicial commission of Inquiry, chaired by
Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga. Justice Madlanga will be
assisted by Advocate Sesi Baloyi SC and Advocate Sandile Khumalo SC,’’ said
President Ramaphosa.
“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. The Minister has undertaken to give
his full cooperation to the Commission to enable it to do its work,” he added.
COURTESY: PresidencyZAThe President expressed concerns about these allegations
“These allegations, if proven true, threaten to undermine
the confidence of South Africans in the ability of the South African Police
Service to protect them and to effectively fight crime and corruption. South
Africans are concerned about corruption and the rise of criminality in our
country, which manifests itself in the killing of innocent people, gender-based
violence, gang violence, kidnappings, construction mafia criminality and many
others.
With the Police Minister now on a leave of absence, Professor Firoz Cachalia has been appointed as acting Minister
“Professor Cachalia is currently a professor of law at the
University of the Witwatersrand and is the chairperson of the National
Anti-Corruption Advisory Council. He previously served as a MEC of Community
Safety in Gauteng. Professor Cachalia will be retiring from his current
position at the University of Witwatersrand at the end of July. I will appoint
an Acting Minister from within Cabinet until Professor Cachalia takes up his
post at the beginning of August,” said President Cyril Ramaphosa.
In a statement, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu says he has
accepted and is supporting President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to place him on
a leave of absence. Mchunu added that he is ready to respond to the accusations
against him and account to the citizens of South Africa.
Done by: Elona Sibunzi
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