Suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu opened his testimony before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Tuesday by asserting that he had never been accused of corruption prior to July 6 of this year.
“I have never been accused of corruption, not once,” Mchunu told the commission, which is investigating criminality, political interference, and corruption in the criminal justice system. “This is the first time I get accused of such, as alleged particularly on July 6.”
July 6 was the date KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi held a press conference claiming Mchunu was allegedly involved with a criminal syndicate that had infiltrated the criminal justice system. Mchunu appeared at the hearing with his legal team, including advocate Thembeka Ngcukaitobi.
Mkhwanazi has accused Mchunu of being influenced by criminal cartels to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), suggesting the move was made because the cartels believed the team was investigating them following raids on two alleged cartel members, Katiso “KT” Molefe and Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, on December 6 last year.
However, Mchunu denied Mkhwanazi’s claims, testifying that he was never briefed about any raid “or any operation resembling what can be known as the December 6 raid.”
Regarding the task team, Mchunu explained that the PKTT was not a permanent structure of the SAPS and had not been budgeted for, with its funding having to be sourced from various other units. He argued that government projects are time-bound and do not run indefinitely.
He added that the PKTT would have been dissolved in 2024 as it would have resulted in an “unnecessary duplication” with other specialised units.
The commission hearing continues.
