ANC Backs Suspension of Mchunu, Calling It a Test of Integrity

The ruling party says it’s standing for integrity, but critics call for stronger action

The African National Congress (ANC) has officially endorsed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to suspend Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, describing the move as “courageous” and a vital step toward restoring credibility in law enforcement and government.

With allegations of deep-seated corruption, interference in police operations, and links to criminal networks still fresh in the public’s mind, the ANC’s public support is being viewed as both a test of its moral fibre and a necessary shift in how it handles internal scandals.

What pushed the ANC to act?

The storm began when Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, KwaZulu-Natal’s top cop, made explosive claims that Mchunu disbanded a task team investigating political killings and interfered in police operations. More gravely, Mkhwanazi alleged that the minister maintained ties to criminal syndicates operating in the province, a claim that, if proven, could rock the foundations of South Africa’s already-strained policing institutions.

President Ramaphosa responded by placing Mchunu on special leave and announcing a Judicial Commission of Inquiry, chaired by Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, to probe the full extent of the allegations.

ANC sees ‘decisive action’, but others see delay tactics

In a statement issued on Monday, the ANC framed the suspension as a bold step toward accountability.

“It is a clear demonstration of the seriousness with which the President and government respond to allegations of corruption and criminal conduct, regardless of who is involved,” said the party.

The ANC’s Integrity Commission has also met with Mchunu this week, as part of its broader effort to rein in senior members facing misconduct claims. Party Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula is expected to brief the media soon to outline how the party plans to deal with implicated members going forward.

But the ANC’s position has not gone unchallenged.

Opposition calls the suspension a “soft landing”

The Democratic Alliance (DA), Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), and MK Party were quick to denounce the decision to offer Mchunu special leave rather than dismissal, arguing that it allows him to keep his salary and perks while under investigation.

In their view, allowing Mchunu to remain a minister in name even if not in office, undermines the seriousness of the charges.

“This is not what real accountability looks like,” said a DA spokesperson. “We cannot reward alleged criminal behaviour with paid leave.”

Political stakes are mounting

While the inquiry will take its legal course, the political implications are immediate. The ANC is under mounting pressure to prove it can clean house, especially with elections on the horizon and public trust in institutions at historic lows.

For Ramaphosa, it’s a balancing act: act too slow, and he’s accused of weakness; act too fast, and he risks disrupting due process — something his presidency has consistently leaned on to draw a line between his administration and that of Jacob Zuma.

A test of credibility and the ANC knows it

Ultimately, the ANC’s endorsement of the suspension is not just about one man. It’s about the message the party wants to send, both to the public and within its ranks.

This could be a defining moment for the ruling party, the point at which it either follows through on promises of renewal or buckles under political convenience.

If the inquiry is thorough, transparent and uncompromising, it could help restore faith in institutions battered by years of scandal.

If not, it could become just another commission, filed away in a thick cabinet of unresolved truths.

For now, the spotlight is firmly on the ANC and how seriously it takes its own commitment to integrity.

{Source: IOL}

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com