Mchunu Under Fire, But ANC Says ‘No Charges, No Step-Aside’

Inside the ANC’s defence of Mchunu amid gang-linked allegations and public outrage

Despite a swirl of allegations, accusations of political interference, and alleged gang links, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu is not stepping aside from his position in the African National Congress. And according to ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, that won’t change, unless formal criminal charges are brought.

At a weekend briefing in Cape Town, Mbalula stood firm: “The step-aside rule only applies to people who are criminally charged,” he said. “Senzo will not step aside in relation to the ANC. He’s an elected member.”

This comes even as President Cyril Ramaphosa placed Mchunu on special leave from his government duties following explosive claims from KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. The commissioner alleged political interference and implied ties between Mchunu and organised crime structures.

A party line under pressure

Mchunu’s appearance at the ANC National Working Committee (NWC) meeting in the Western Cape was telling. It showed that, despite the storm surrounding him, he still holds the party’s confidence, for now. Mbalula was quick to defend the decision, stressing due process.

“Let’s allow the process to unfold,” he told reporters. “Once we listen to Mchunu’s side and it’s evaluated by a competent, independent authority, then we can pass judgment.”

That “audi alteram partem” principle—Latin for “listen to the other side”, is being wielded like a legal shield by the party. But critics aren’t buying it.

Double standards or due process?

Former ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule, no stranger to the step-aside rule himself, has accused the party of hypocrisy. When he was accused of corruption, the ANC moved swiftly to sideline him. Why, he asks, does Mchunu get to remain active in party affairs?

Mbalula insists there’s no inconsistency: Magashule was charged. Mchunu hasn’t been. It’s a thin but critical distinction the ANC is holding onto tightly.

Still, many South Africans, particularly those watching the state’s ongoing struggle with corruption and gang violence in KZN, see this as another example of selective accountability. On X (formerly Twitter), #StepAsideMchunu trended by Sunday night, with users demanding clearer action.

What happens next?

A panel set up to investigate the matter will submit updates every three months. Until then, Mchunu will remain a fully participating ANC member, while an acting minister temporarily holds his government position.

Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court has received legal challenges to Mchunu’s continued political involvement, moves Mbalula has dismissed as “politically opportunistic.”

“The president has done the right thing by launching an independent process. That’s how we protect democracy,” Mbalula said.

Between loyalty and law

In the broader context, this saga underscores how the ANC continues to walk a tightrope between legal formalities and public trust. The step-aside rule, once touted as a bold stance against corruption, is now being stress-tested by real political heat.

With a national election looming in less than a year, how the ANC manages figures like Mchunu will say a lot about its future and whether voters believe its promise to clean house is more than just political theatre.

For now, though, unless the National Prosecuting Authority lays charges, Mchunu stays put.

And the ANC’s message is clear: Allegations are not convictions.

{Source: IOL}

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