Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has come out swinging in response to damning allegations by KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, calling the claims “baseless, wild, and deeply damaging.”
Addressing the media from Vryheid, where he’s campaigning ahead of the 16 July by-elections, Mchunu expressed outrage over what he described as a coordinated attempt to discredit his office, the SAPS, and his personal integrity. He said the allegations—suggesting his ties to a criminal syndicate and interference in high-profile investigations—are designed to derail critical progress in fighting crime.
The Minister said he was briefed on Mkhwanazi’s explosive remarks while engaging with community leaders, izinduna, and commercial farmers about rural safety and stock theft—issues he said are of real concern to citizens, unlike what he characterized as “political theatrics.”
In a firm rebuttal, Mchunu made it clear he won’t tolerate accusations made without due process, confirming that Mkhwanazi’s statements will be formally reviewed and that “appropriate action” will follow. The Minister is now pushing for a full, independent investigation, stating that the proper platform—not a press conference—is where such serious allegations should be tested.
Mchunu also used the moment to reaffirm his crime-fighting agenda, focusing on the murder crisis, the flood of illegal firearms, and the ruthless drug syndicates destabilizing communities in provinces like KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Eastern Cape, and the Western Cape. He highlighted his unwavering commitment to tackling gender-based violence and femicide (GBV+F), positioning himself as focused on real threats, not political drama.
As the fallout from Mkhwanazi’s bombshell briefing intensifies, Mchunu’s counteroffensive adds a new layer of tension to a scandal that now has multiple branches of government at odds in public view. With both men standing their ground and calling for investigations—albeit for very different reasons—South Africa may be heading for a political and institutional showdown that could redefine accountability at the highest levels of law enforcement.
