DA Confirms Police Criminal Probe into Former Minister Senzo Mchunu

A scandal that began with whispers inside Parliament has now sparked a formal criminal investigation.

Former Police Minister Senzo Mchunu is officially under criminal investigation, the Democratic Alliance (DA) revealed this week, following their formal complaint to police over allegations that Mchunu lied to Parliament.

According to DA Deputy Chief Whip Baxolile “Bax” Nodada, the South African Police Service (SAPS) has now assigned a senior Lieutenant Colonel to handle the investigation, indicating the gravity of the case against the former minister.

The Charges: Fraud and Breach of Parliamentary Powers

The DA laid criminal charges against Mchunu last week, accusing him of violating the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act, a law designed to uphold the sanctity of Parliamentary accountability.

At the centre of the storm is Mchunu’s alleged false statements regarding his ties to Brown Mogotsi, a controversial information broker linked to a web of corruption allegations involving the disbanding of a task team investigating political killings in KwaZulu-Natal.

“This is not political theatre,” said Nodada. “This is about holding public officials accountable for telling the truth in Parliament, especially those overseeing law enforcement.”

A Snowballing Crisis

This latest development adds even more pressure to an already explosive situation. Just last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa placed Mchunu on special leave following bombshell allegations by KZN police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who accused Mchunu of interfering in criminal investigations and colluding with Mogotsi to suppress political murder probes.

Mchunu has denied any wrongdoing, claiming the disbanded task team had “outlived its usefulness.” But WhatsApp messages, SAPS documents, and cellphone logs suggest a coordinated effort to dismantle the team, allegedly withdrawing over 120 active murder dockets in the process.

Public Reaction: “Now the Law Must Take Its Course”

On social media, South Africans expressed cautious approval of the investigation.

“About time ministers faced criminal charges for misleading Parliament,” one user wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “This can’t just end in suspension and silence.”

Others called for transparency around the investigation: “The real test is not the announcement, it’s the outcome. Will we ever see a minister actually stand trial?”

While SAPS has confirmed an investigation is underway, no arrest or summons has yet been issued. The appointment of a senior officer, however, signals that the matter won’t be brushed aside.

This is a developing story, and all eyes will be on both Parliament and the courts in the coming weeks to see whether South Africa’s institutions will follow through on holding one of their own to account.

One thing is certain: the political fallout from the Mchunu saga is far from over.

{Source: The Citizen}

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