Zuma & MK Party Lose Court Bid, High Court Backs Ramaphosa’s Call on Mchunu

The tension between former president Jacob Zuma’s camp and the Presidency flared up again this week and once more, it didn’t end in Zuma’s favour.

On Tuesday, 9 December 2025, the Pretoria High Court dismissed the urgent application brought by Zuma and his MK party to revive their challenge against President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision earlier this year to place Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on special leave. The bid to overturn the appointment of Firoz Cachalia as Acting Police Minister and to block the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry also failed.

For the MK Party, this ruling is another legal blow in a series of unsuccessful attempts to rein in Ramaphosa’s executive decisions.

Why the Court Said No

Judge Anthony Millar didn’t mince his words: placing a minister on leave during serious allegations, and establishing an independent inquiry to uncover the truth, falls squarely within the powers of the President.

According to Millar, Ramaphosa acted rationally and lawfully.

He noted that suspending a minister pending an investigation is neither unusual nor unconstitutional, and that setting up an inquiry, in this case, the Madlanga Commission – is a justified step when concerns of corruption, interference, and systemic rot have been raised inside the police and justice system.

In short?
The court found no basis to interfere, and the application was dismissed with each party carrying its own legal costs.

Where This All Began

The legal fight traces back to allegations from Lt. General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, the KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner. He claimed that criminal networks had infiltrated the justice system and that Minister Mchunu interfered in policing matters – particularly the disbanding of the KZN political killings task team.

These allegations triggered Ramaphosa’s decision to place Mchunu on leave and establish the commission. Zuma and the MK party, however, labelled the move unconstitutional and sought to have it overturned.

Their attempt to take the matter directly to the Constitutional Court in July 2025 also failed, with the court saying it lacked jurisdiction.

Tuesday’s ruling cemented that outcome.

Political Ripples & Public Reaction

Unsurprisingly, the ruling sparked chatter across political corners and online spaces. Supporters of the MK movement framed it as yet another example of what they call judicial bias against Zuma, while others saw the ruling as a necessary step in cleaning up the country’s policing structures.

South Africans tired of corruption scandals voiced relief that an inquiry will move ahead, hoping it will finally unpack long-standing concerns about political interference in law enforcement.

Meanwhile, analysts suggest the ruling strengthens Ramaphosa’s hand at a time when internal and external pressures on the Presidency are mounting.

Why This Matters

Beyond the courtroom, this case touches on something bigger, public trust in the police and the state’s ability to regulate itself.

If the commission uncovers wrongdoing, the outcome could reshape policing accountability in South Africa. If it finds nothing, Ramaphosa’s decision will still stand as a demonstration of executive power used in favour of transparency.

Either way, one thing is clear: this story is far from over.

{Source: The Citizen}

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