President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on immediate leave of absence following serious allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. The commissioner accused Mchunu of political interference in police operations, links to criminal elements, and involvement in the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team in KZN.
During a national address on Sunday evening, Ramaphosa announced that Professor Firoz Cachalia, from the University of the Witwatersrand, will serve as Acting Minister of Police. The President said the move is intended to preserve the integrity of the inquiry and ensure that the commission can carry out its work without obstruction.
Responding to the announcement on VOC Breakfast on Monday, political analyst Sandile Swana criticised Ramaphosa’s handling of the matter.
“By and large, Mchunu was already on leave. So, there was no news there. It’s just confirming what we already knew,” Swana said. “Mchunu had already indicated he stepped aside to allow investigations to proceed.”
Swana went on to accuse the President of shirking executive responsibility.
“I agree with the DA when they say the president is outsourcing executive decisions to the commission decisions, he should be making himself. For example, he could have called on the Special Investigating Unit, which is already established and budgeted for, to investigate the claims,” he said.
He argued that forming a commission rather than using existing structures represents a misstep and a failure to demonstrate decisive executive leadership.
Listen to the full interview below:
VOC News
Photo: @PresidencyZA/X
