Mchunu's Downfall: A Trail of Allegations and Interference

Suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.

By Mpho Dube, Editor-in-Chief, The Azanian

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It doesn't rain but pours for Senzo Mchunu, the suspended police minister, as allegations of witness coercion, interference in investigations, and corruption continue to mount against him.

The Madlanga commission, investigating allegations of criminality, political interference, and corruption in the criminal justice system, has heard shocking testimony from two key witnesses, painting a damning picture of Mchunu's conduct.

KwaZulu-Natal acting deputy police commissioner Maj-Gen Anthony Gopaul testified that Mchunu questioned why the political killings task team (PKTT) was investigating the murder of ANC councillor Phendukani Mabhida, and instead instructed that the case be probed by the local station. "He asked why the PKTT was investigating the case, as he had instructed it be ‘investigated by the station where the crime occurred’," Gopaul said.

Gopaul added that Mchunu's demands were followed due to his position as their boss. "The reason the police had submitted to the minister’s demands was that he was their boss," he said. This revelation has raised concerns about the extent to which Mchunu's influence has compromised the integrity of the police force.

Another witness, referred to as Witness E, alleged that Mchunu tried to implicate crime intelligence head Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo and former police minister Bheki Cele in the murder of Sindiso Magaqa, a former ANC Youth League secretary-general. Witness E claimed Mchunu pressured him to submit a false statement to the commission, which he refused to do.

"He said the paragraph must read as follows: that from 2018, after the establishment of the PKTT, and as from 2022, Gen Khumalo was head of crime intelligence, and to date Gen Khumalo has not done anything about the information that I gave him about the alleged involvement of crime intelligence members, although he is the head of intelligence," Witness E said.

Witness E also revealed that Mchunu asked him if he had written the affidavit, and played audio evidence of the conversation to support his claim. "I didn’t prepare the statement as had been ordered by Mchunu, as it would be a lie," he said. This testimony has sparked outrage and calls for Mchunu's immediate resignation.

The allegations against Mchunu are serious, and the evidence presented at the Madlanga commission suggests a pattern of interference in investigations and attempts to manipulate the justice system. As the commission's hearings continue, Mchunu's position as police minister hangs in the balance.

The implications of these allegations are far-reaching, and raise questions about the credibility of the police force and the justice system as a whole. The fact that Mchunu, as the police minister, is accused of attempting to undermine the very institutions he is supposed to oversee is a worrying sign for the country's rule of law.

The Azanian Truth will continue to follow this developing story and provide updates as more information becomes available. The people of South Africa deserve answers, and it is imperative that those responsible for these alleged transgressions are held accountable.

As the situation unfolds, one thing is clear: Mchunu's future as police minister is uncertain, and the country is watching with bated breath to see how this scandal will play out.