South Africa’s Police Minister Suspended Amid Corruption Probe

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has taken decisive action, suspending his police minister, Senzo Mchunu, following explosive allegations linking him to organized crime. The announcement came during a special address to the nation, where Ramaphosa also declared the establishment of an independent commission of inquiry.

The commission is tasked with investigating the involvement of current or former senior officials in institutions who may have facilitated or condoned alleged criminal activity. To ensure the inquiry’s effectiveness, Mchunu has been placed on an immediate leave of absence.

Despite denying the allegations, the 67-year-old Mchunu, a key ally of Ramaphosa within the African National Congress (ANC) and once considered a potential presidential successor, faces intense scrutiny. The scandal erupted after KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi publicly accused Mchunu of receiving payments from a corruption suspect and disbanding a police task team investigating political killings due to external pressure.

Ramaphosa, who campaigned on a promise to eradicate the rampant corruption plaguing South African governance, noted Mkhwanazi’s serious claims about a sophisticated criminal syndicate infiltrating law enforcement. The commission is expected to deliver its initial findings within three months. This latest controversy further strains the fragile Government of National Unity (GNU), formed just over a year ago after the ANC lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since 1994. Opposition parties, including the Democratic Alliance, have criticized Ramaphosa’s reliance on commissions, viewing them as a means to defer accountability rather than demonstrating firm leadership.

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