Suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu Applauds Madlanga Commission, Reaffirms Innocence Over Cartel Links
In a bold defense of his integrity, suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has praised the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry as a historic turning point for accountability in South Africa.
Mchunu, who was placed on a special leave of absence by President Cyril Ramaphosa following explosive allegations of political interference, strongly maintained that the judicial inquiry has done vital work in uncovering hidden layers of institutional rot.
“The Madlanga Commission is one of the best things that ever happened in South Africa,” Mchunu stated. “Without it, we would not know everything we know now.”
The inquiry—chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga—was established to probe allegations that high-ranking state officials and the criminal justice system had been captured by dangerous drug cartels and criminal syndicates.
The primary accusations against Mchunu stem from allegations brought forward by KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
Mkhwanazi accused the minister of trying to stall high-level assassinations and syndication investigations by ordering the sudden disbandment of the National Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).
Firmly pushing back against these assertions, Mchunu reiterated that his decisions were strictly administrative policy interventions and not an effort to shelter criminals.
He adamantly declared that he has always known there is absolutely no relationship, business or personal, between himself and any underworld gangs.
Despite facing intense, adversarial cross-examination over his directives and weathering continuous media scrutiny, Mchunu maintains that the public nature of the commission is its greatest strength.
He suggested that the sweeping disclosures made by senior police leadership, intelligence bosses, and independent investigators have provided South Africans with an unprecedented look into the state’s security vulnerabilities.
As the commission nears its final November deadline, public pressure has simultaneously mounted on the presidency regarding the financial fallout of the saga.
Recent parliamentary disclosures revealed that the taxpayer bill for Mchunu’s legal representation and salary while on special leave has surpassed R5.8 million, generating harsh criticism from opposition parties.
Nevertheless, Mchunu remains unfazed, asserting that the long-term benefit of purifying the country’s law enforcement agencies far outweighs the temporary political storm.
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