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From Parliament to the Pasture: Senzo Mchunu Declares Goat, Blanket, and R20K Phone as Only Gifts
From Parliament to the Pasture:
Senzo Mchunu’s Gift List Turns Heads in Parliament’s 2025 Register
A R20,000 cellphone, a goat, and a traditional blanket. That’s all Police Minister Senzo Mchunu received in 2025, according to South Africa’s newly released Register of Members’ Interests. For a man mired in controversy and on special leave from his cabinet post, the humble nature of these gifts has left South Africans both amused and suspicious.
But these weren’t just any presents. Each tells its own story.
A Gift of Status and Symbolism
The priciest item on Mchunu’s list a R20,000 cellphone was a gift from the Ambassador of the Republic of China. Diplomatic gifts of this nature are not unusual, but the high value of the phone sparked online chatter about whether such generosity creates soft pressure or subtle influence.
The goat and blanket, however, came not from global powerhouses but from the people of Onyango, a community in Ulundi, KwaZulu-Natal. In many rural areas, gifting livestock and traditional blankets is a mark of deep respect. Social media had a field day with the imagery, one user joked, “Is Mchunu planning to start a farm or a call centre?”
No Side Hustles, No Sponsorships, Just Land
In a register often filled with shares, companies, trusts, and offshore assets, Mchunu stood out for declaring nothing of the sort. No businesses. No partnerships. No memberships to business bodies. Just three properties in KwaZulu-Natal, two residential and a sizeable 403-hectare farm in Vryheid.
That Vryheid farm, in particular, caught the attention of some Twitter users who questioned whether its use or production might be tied to any political ties or local stakeholders. But so far, there’s no evidence suggesting Mchunu is doing more than holding land.
Context: Why Mchunu’s Finances Matter Now
The timing of these declarations couldn’t be more awkward. Mchunu is currently on special leave after explosive allegations from KZN Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. The commissioner accused him of disbanding a task team probing political killings in the province, a serious claim in a province often scarred by political violence.
With trust in leadership already shaky, the public is scrutinizing every detail, including how seemingly “clean” or “undeclared” a politician’s financial record may be. Critics argue that not owning side businesses doesn’t always mean there are no conflicts of interest, especially when land, influence, and traditional alliances come into play.
Parliament’s Register: Transparency or Technicality?
South Africa’s Register of Members’ Interests is intended to bring transparency and restore trust in public institutions. Yet, every year, the disclosures also raise eyebrows, for what they include and what they omit.
In Mchunu’s case, the declarations appear oddly sparse for someone of his seniority. This has led to some observers questioning whether officials are being fully transparent or simply technical in their disclosures. “It’s not always about what’s declared,” wrote political analyst Duma Mbatha. “It’s also about what remains comfortably hidden in plain sight.”
A Goat, a Blanket, and the State of the Nation
In a political climate thick with suspicion and social media commentary, even the humble gifting of a goat can make national headlines. Whether these items reflect the minister’s modest connections or a carefully managed public image is up for debate.
But one thing is clear: South Africans are watching, from Parliament’s marble floors to the dusty roads of Ulundi.
{Source: IOL}
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