Taxpayers still paying millions for Mchunu as special leave drags on

Nearly a year after Police Minister Senzo Mchunu was removed from active duty, South Africans are still footing the bill for a political limbo that shows no signs of ending soon.

What started as a temporary “special leave” arrangement has now become a growing point of frustration for opposition parties, accountability groups and ordinary taxpayers who are questioning why the country is effectively paying for two police ministers at the same time.

Mchunu, who stepped aside in July 2025 following explosive allegations of corruption and political interference in police investigations, has continued receiving his full ministerial salary despite not carrying out official duties for the past 10 months.

With his annual package sitting at roughly R2.69 million and increasing again this year the public cost has already crossed the R2.2 million mark and continues rising every month.

A political storm that refuses to disappear

The controversy around Mchunu is tied to claims made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who alleged that criminal syndicates had infiltrated parts of law enforcement structures.

Central to the accusations was the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team, a unit created to investigate politically motivated assassinations in KwaZulu-Natal a province long associated with violent political rivalries inside and outside the ANC.

At the time, the allegations sent shockwaves through South African politics because Mchunu was not viewed as just another cabinet minister. He has long been considered one of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s closest political allies and one of the ANC leader’s strongest backers in KwaZulu-Natal.

That relationship is now drawing even more scrutiny as questions grow over why the matter remains unresolved almost a year later.

South Africans paying for two ministers

While Mchunu remains on paid leave, Professor Firoz Cachalia has been serving as acting police minister also on a full ministerial salary.

Critics say this effectively means taxpayers are funding two salaries for one portfolio during a time when millions of South Africans are battling rising food prices, unemployment and worsening service delivery.

On social media, many users have described the situation as “another example of political protection” within government circles.

Others pointed out the irony that ordinary public servants are often suspended without pay or face quick disciplinary action, while high-ranking politicians remain financially protected for months on end.

OUTA says politics is delaying accountability

The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) believes the issue highlights a much deeper governance problem inside the state.

OUTA CEO Wayne Duvenhage warned that South Africa has developed a pattern where disciplinary or investigative processes involving politically connected figures drag on for years while taxpayers continue carrying the financial burden.

According to OUTA, the concern is no longer just about Mchunu himself, but about government’s apparent inability to resolve accountability matters quickly and transparently.

The organisation argues that “special leave” should not become a politically convenient holding pattern.

Ramaphosa under pressure

The matter has also become politically uncomfortable for President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is already facing mounting pressure over several governance and accountability battles, including renewed scrutiny linked to the Phala Phala saga.

Political analyst Professor Andre Duvenhage believes Mchunu’s continued protection is closely tied to internal ANC power dynamics.

According to Duvenhage, Mchunu remains strategically important to Ramaphosa’s political survival, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, where factional battles inside the ANC remain intense.

That reality, analysts say, may explain why the President has been reluctant to make a final call before the Madlanga Commission completes its work.

Commission hearings continue

Mchunu has already appeared before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, where he defended himself against allegations made by Mkhwanazi.

The commission is investigating claims of political interference within SAPS structures and is expected to continue hearing evidence until at least August.

Until then, the uncertainty remains.

For many South Africans, however, the bigger issue is becoming less about legal procedure and more about public trust.

At a time when government departments repeatedly warn about budget constraints and spending cuts, the image of a minister earning millions while sidelined from active duty is becoming increasingly difficult for the public to accept.

And with every passing month, the political cost not just the financial one appears to be growing.