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Fall from Grace: How Mkhwanazi’s Explosive Claims Shattered Mchunu’s ANC Presidency Dreams

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2 months ago

July 8, 2025

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What started as a quiet presidential campaign has become a political nightmare for the police minister

Just weeks ago, Senzo Mchunu’s name was being whispered in ANC corridors as a serious contender for the party’s top job. Posters with his face began surfacing online, subtle endorsements made their way into speeches, and his political star seemed to be on the rise ahead of the ANC’s 56th national elective conference.

Now, in a twist that feels straight out of a political thriller, his campaign may be dead before it truly began — brought down not by his rivals, but by a colleague in uniform.

The Bombshell That Rocked the Presidency Race

The man responsible? KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, a figure known for his no-nonsense approach and decorated career in law enforcement.

At a highly anticipated press briefing, Mkhwanazi dropped a series of explosive allegations, accusing Mchunu of colluding with criminals, shutting down police units investigating political killings, and accepting financial support from a controversial businessman linked to organised crime.

“This syndicate involves, amongst others, politicians currently serving in Parliament,” Mkhwanazi told South Africans, warning that police investigations had been deliberately derailed.

The room went quiet, but the political noise that followed was deafening.

A Career Derailed Before It Took Flight

For Mchunu, who was seen as President Cyril Ramaphosa’s steady hand in the Police Ministry, the timing could not be worse. His anticipated bid for ANC presidency had just started to gain momentum, but now, instead of building a coalition, he’s fighting for his political survival.

Political analyst Dr Metji Makgoba from the University of Limpopo says the allegations could be fatal to Mchunu’s ambitions.

“His credibility is under intense scrutiny,” said Makgoba. “The public now associates his name with allegations of corruption, cover-ups and political killings and that’s very hard to come back from.”

He added that Mkhwanazi’s reputation for integrity and independence gives the claims weight: “This isn’t just a rival throwing mud, this is a senior police official with access to case files and operational intelligence.”

ANC Caught in the Crossfire

The ANC’s Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has already said Mchunu will need to explain himself to the party. Meanwhile, President Ramaphosa called the claims a matter of grave national security concern.

But the ANC’s internal fractures are showing. With Mchunu now on the defensive, the balance of power within the ruling party, especially ahead of the 2027 national elections, may shift again. Whispers of State Capture 2.0 are swirling, and some within the party fear these allegations could tarnish the ANC’s already fragile image.

‘This May Be the End of Mchunu’s Political Career’

On social media, reaction has been swift and divided. The hashtags #MchunuMustGo and #MkhwanaziTruth have trended on X (formerly Twitter), with users calling for a full investigation.

Prominent social commentator Sizwe Sikamusi summed up the public sentiment:

“To me, the real question is what Ramaphosa is going to do now. If Mchunu stays in Cabinet without an inquiry, it contradicts everything the President said about cleaning up corruption.”

Sikamusi believes this could mark the end of Mchunu’s political relevance: “He’ll spend more time defending his name than building support. And in politics, time is everything.”

Mchunu Denies, But Damage May Be Done

Mchunu has hit back, calling the claims “baseless and without evidence.” But Mkhwanazi didn’t just make vague statements. He provided a detailed chronology of events and alluded to evidence of financial transactions.

Even without a formal charge, the public perception has shifted. In a country still reeling from the legacy of State Capture, allegations of political protection for criminals, particularly those linked to assassinations and drug networks, carry heavy weight.

Where To From Here?

As of now, no official inquiry has been announced. But pressure is mounting. Civil society groups, opposition parties, and ANC insiders are calling for a judicial commission or parliamentary investigation into Mkhwanazi’s claims.

Whether the allegations hold up under legal scrutiny remains to be seen. But in the court of public opinion, Mchunu’s campaign may already be over.

In South African politics, timing is everything and right now, the clock is working against Senzo Mchunu.