Mchunu Defers to Ramaphosa as Mkhwanazi’s Explosive Claims Shake SAPS

With pressure mounting, the Police Minister says he won’t resign, but will accept whatever the president decides.

The political storm triggered by explosive claims from KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi continues to gather force, placing Police Minister Senzo Mchunu at the centre of a growing national scandal. But rather than resign or step aside, Mchunu is deferring to President Cyril Ramaphosa, the one person, he says, who can decide his fate.

In a short but telling interview with IOL, Mchunu stated calmly:

“I will be guided by what the president decides, and he is applying his mind… It would not be fair for me to prejudge the process.”

That “process,” however, is anything but calm. The allegations by Mkhwanazi are no longer just political theatre, they touch on issues of national security, alleged ties to drug cartels, and deep corruption inside the criminal justice system.

Public support surges for Mkhwanazi

Lt-Gen Mkhwanazi’s decision to blow the whistle has sparked an outpouring of support, particularly from civil society and within the SAPS itself. The Public Servants Association (PSA), which represents over 245,000 government employees, has thrown its weight behind the embattled commissioner.

“Mchunu should do the honourable thing and step aside to save the country further embarrassment,” said PSA general manager Reuben Maleka.

“Mkhwanazi is a whistle-blower, and whistle-blowers are often killed or silenced. We must stand with him.”

Maleka even offered PSA support for Mkhwanazi if he’s targeted or suspended, including backing him all the way to the Constitutional Court if necessary.

Political fallout and silence from the top

While opposition parties and advocacy groups have called for Mchunu to be suspended immediately, President Ramaphosa has remained silent, a silence some interpret as a sign of political discomfort. The president and Mchunu are known to be close, and critics warn that inaction could damage the president’s reformist image.

Meanwhile, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula insisted that there’s currently no legal basis to suspend Mchunu since he has not been formally charged. But Mbalula did concede that the matter is serious and that Ramaphosa must act decisively.

“These are not light claims. They cut to the heart of state integrity. The president must address the nation.”

What’s next for Parliament and SAPS?

Parliament is now expected to convene a debate on the matter, and there is growing support for Mkhwanazi to testify under oath before a joint inquiry of the police and justice portfolio committees.

This comes after weeks of drip-fed disclosures by Mkhwanazi about political interference, tender corruption, and SAPS leadership shielding politically connected individuals from prosecution. Among the names dragged into the fray is controversial businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, who was recently caught with a cellphone in his prison cell.

Mkhwanazi has alleged interference from national leadership in investigations connected to Matlala, a claim that many see as the breaking point in his decision to go public.

A broader crisis of trust

The crisis surrounding Mchunu and Mkhwanazi reflects a much deeper rot within South Africa’s criminal justice system. At a time when crime rates are surging, public confidence in police leadership is faltering. And now, even senior officials are voicing what many citizens have long suspected, that crime and politics may be more intertwined than ever.

Mchunu may be banking on loyalty from the president, but the pressure is intensifying from all directions. From the streets to Parliament, the nation is demanding accountability and time may be running out for quiet diplomacy.

Ramaphosa will need to break his silence soon, because with Parliament moving to debate and parties mobilising, the country will want answers and action, not just introspection.

{Source: IOL}

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