South Africa’s police minister Senzo Mchunu has rejected allegations that he is linked to criminal syndicates and meddled in investigations into political killings.
KwaZulu-Natal provincial commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi told reporters on Sunday that Mchunu received financial backing from a businessman arrested for attempted murder and, on the minister’s instruction, dismantled a 2018 task force that was probing more than 120 politically motivated murders in the province.
Mkhwanazi said the task-force case files were removed in March and have remained untouched at police headquarters despite pending arrest warrants. He displayed text messages and payment slips he claims link Mchunu to the businessman, Vusimuzi Matlala, whose police supply contract was cancelled after his arrest.
Mchunu dismissed the claims as “wild allegations,” while President Cyril Ramaphosa called the matter a “grave national-security concern” and ordered top-level attention.
National police commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola said he would address the accusations later this week when naming an acting head of crime intelligence. The post is vacant after Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo was arrested last month on fraud and corruption charges tied to alleged misuse of intelligence funds.
