‘I barely know him’: Senzo Mchunu distances himself from Calvin Mathibeli storm

KwaZulu-Natal politics rarely whispers. It erupts.

This week, suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu found himself pulled back into the province’s ever-swirling storm, this time over his alleged links to Durban businessman Calvin Mathibeli.

Mchunu has now publicly distanced himself from Mathibeli, saying he “barely knows” the security mogul whose explosive accusations against provincial police have ignited fierce debate across KZN.

Raids, accusations and a social media firestorm

Mathibeli, CEO of the Calvin and Family Group, went public with claims that KwaZulu-Natal police under the leadership of Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi subjected him to harassment, intimidation and unlawful raids.

In a series of social media posts that quickly gained traction, Mathibeli alleged that:

• He was warned in December 2025 that police officers had been instructed to kill him.

• Multiple units, including K9 and the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), surrounded his family home using what he described as a fraudulent warrant.

• Officers allegedly assaulted his security staff and confiscated 14 licensed firearms without proper documentation.

• His wife and sister were verbally abused.

• Staff were pressured for information about his children’s school.

He has since filed a lawsuit in the Durban High Court against police, accusing them of unlawful conduct and harassment.

The claims have divided public opinion. Some online commentators argue that powerful businessmen must be scrutinised. Others say if even the wealthy feel unsafe, ordinary citizens stand little chance.

Where Mchunu fits in

The controversy deepened after images surfaced showing Mathibeli and Mchunu together prompting speculation about their relationship.

Through his spokesperson Thabiso Mshengu, Mchunu firmly denied any close ties.

According to Mshengu, Mchunu who has held multiple public roles in KZN and nationally knows many figures in business and politics. He acknowledged that Mchunu is aware of Mathibeli as a prominent businessman in the province but insisted there is no relationship between them.

“He knows that there is a big man called Mathibeli in KZN,” Mshengu said, noting that Mathibeli’s business footprint in government and the public sector would naturally make his name familiar.

Mshengu added that Mchunu saw the businessman’s allegations in the media and has never seen the warrant in question. He also stressed that Mchunu met Mathibeli only before becoming Minister of Police and has had no involvement in the claims made against KZN police leadership.

The bigger political backdrop

This row does not exist in isolation.

In a dramatic press briefing last year, Mkhwanazi alleged that Mchunu was “fully involved” with or influenced by criminal cartels, specifically a Gauteng-based drug syndicate. He further claimed that Mchunu ordered the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team in December 2024 to shield politically connected individuals.

Mkhwanazi also alleged that 121 case dockets were moved to national headquarters and left untouched.

Mchunu has consistently rejected those accusations as baseless and in violation of police protocol.

The fallout was significant. On 13 July 2025, President Cyril Ramaphosa placed Mchunu on a leave of absence, a move that sent shockwaves through law enforcement circles and triggered the establishment of the Madlanga Commission and a parliamentary ad hoc committee.

In this already charged environment, any perceived link between Mchunu and a businessman publicly attacking Mkhwanazi was bound to spark suspicion.

Police push back

KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda has dismissed Mathibeli’s allegations as malicious, baseless and reckless. He described them as a calculated smear campaign aimed at damaging Mkhwanazi’s reputation.

Mkhwanazi has reportedly threatened legal action.

Meanwhile, KZN police have confirmed they have begun investigating Mathibeli’s business dealings, including matters linked to a Gauteng Department of Health tender.

Mathibeli did not respond to media questions.

Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has also declined to comment substantively, saying it would be inappropriate to weigh in on unsubstantiated allegations against a senior officer.

A province on edge

For many in KZN, this saga feels like yet another chapter in a long-running struggle between political power, business interests and law enforcement authority.

The province has a complicated history with politically motivated violence and allegations of corruption. The Political Killings Task Team itself was established to address targeted assassinations, an issue that has cast a long shadow over KZN for years.

Against that backdrop, claims of fraudulent warrants, disbanded units and alleged cartel links carry heavy weight.

On local talk radio and across social platforms, the conversation has been blunt: Who is telling the truth? Who benefits? And what does this mean for public trust in the police?

Reputation versus reality

For Mchunu, already on leave and facing serious allegations from within the police ranks, the last thing he needs is perceived proximity to another controversy.

By stating he “barely knows” Mathibeli, he is attempting to draw a clean line, one that separates him from both the businessman’s claims and the escalating war of words in KwaZulu-Natal policing circles.

But in a province where politics and business often intersect, drawing lines is rarely simple.

As investigations continue into both Mathibeli’s allegations and his business dealings, one thing is certain: this is no longer just about a raid. It is about credibility, power and the fragile state of trust in law enforcement.

And in KZN, trust is a currency that has been in short supply for some time.

{Source: IOL}

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com