MPs Grill Senzo Mchunu Over Links to Alleged Tender Kingpin and North West Businessman

MPs Turn Up the Heat: Mchunu Faces Scrutiny Over Matlala and Mogotsi Links

Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee inquiry into policing and corruption took a fiery turn on Tuesday as suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu faced tough questions about his alleged relationships with controversial figures Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and Oupa Brown Mogotsi.

The inquiry, which has drawn national attention, is probing explosive claims by KwaZulu-Natal SAPS Commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, including allegations of political interference and internal sabotage within the police service.

While the official questioning was led by Advocate Norman Arendse SC, it was ANC MP Xola Nqola who pushed the debate into politically uncomfortable territory, voicing concern over what he called “worrying associations” surrounding Mchunu.

Mchunu Denies Knowing Matlala and Distances Himself from Mogotsi

Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, a familiar name in South Africa’s tender scandals, is currently behind bars after being denied bail in connection with the attempted murder of actress Tebogo Thobejane in 2023. He’s also been linked to dubious hospital transactions and state contracts in Gauteng, including at Tembisa Hospital.

Oupa Brown Mogotsi, meanwhile, has repeatedly surfaced in corruption investigations and was cited in testimony before the Madlanga Commission for allegedly meddling in SAPS operations and cultivating relationships with senior police officials.

When grilled on these links, Mchunu flatly denied any relationship with either man. “I do not know Mr. Matlala; I’ve never met him,” he insisted.

Nqola later described Mchunu’s testimony as both defensive and intriguing. “He explained that within the ANC there are many charactersthieves, witches, pastorsit’s a multi-class organisation,” said Nqola, summarising the minister’s remarks.

“But beyond that, the minister maintains he has no relationship with Matlala or Mogotsi. What worries us is that Mogotsi has allegedly been briefing both sides in SAPS, creating chaos with gossip and half-truths. We are here to get to the bottom of it.”

MPs Probe the Disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team

Beyond personal associations, MPs were eager to understand Mchunu’s decision to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), a move that’s raised eyebrows in both political and policing circles.

The PKTT was originally created in response to a surge in politically motivated assassinations, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal. Its disbandment under Mchunu’s leadership has been widely criticised, with many fearing it could weaken the fight against political violence.

“We needed to understand the reasoning,” Nqola told reporters during a committee break. “Was there any change in the conditions that led to the PKTT being formed in the first place? If not, how can its disbandment be justified?”

He added that the committee’s work goes beyond Mchunu’s personal conduct. “We’re also examining vacancies in intelligence, operations at ports of entry, and whether the minister’s actions align with Sections 206 and 207 of the Constitution, which define SAPS governance.”

A Crisis of Credibility and Control

The committee’s heated exchanges reflect a broader crisis of credibility within South Africa’s law enforcement and political institutions. Both Matlala and Mogotsi have become symbolic of the blurred line between business influence and state authority, an echo of the state capture era that continues to haunt the ANC.

Public sentiment online has been biting. On X (formerly Twitter), one user wrote:

“South Africa doesn’t need new scandals; it needs clean governance. If Mchunu’s hands are clean, he should have no fear answering straight.”

Another commented:

“Every commission, every inquiry, it’s the same pattern. The rot runs deeper than one minister.”

For now, Mchunu remains suspended as the parliamentary inquiry continues to unravel what could become one of the most revealing probes into post-capture policing.

With Parliament’s patience wearing thin and public trust on the line, the question is no longer just about who Mchunu knows, but whether South Africa’s policing system can still police itself.

{Source: IOL}

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