Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, KwaZulu-Natal’s top cop, has formally accused Police Minister Senzo Mchunu of corruption and of using his political power to protect high-profile criminals, deepening an already explosive national scandal.
In his most direct allegation yet, Mkhwanazi linked Mchunu to the case of Vusumuzi “Cat” Matlala, the controversial businessman currently in custody for attempted murder and facing multiple charges tied to an alleged crime syndicate. Mkhwanazi claims Mchunu acted to shield Matlala from justice, and that the minister has ties to powerful criminal networks operating within and beyond the state.
“These are not just criminals operating in isolation,” Mkhwanazi said. “They are politically connected. Some of them are protected at the highest levels—including by Minister Mchunu.”
According to the commissioner, interference came in the form of dismantling key investigative teams, suppressing evidence, and allowing case dockets involving political assassinations and organised crime to quietly disappear or stall.
The accusations paint a deeply troubling picture of a police ministry allegedly compromised from the top down, where efforts to root out organised crime are actively being undermined by those tasked with leading them.
Minister Mchunu has dismissed all accusations as “baseless,” but public pressure for an independent inquiry is intensifying.
With these latest revelations, Mkhwanazi has not only drawn a line in the sand—he has placed the integrity of South Africa’s entire justice system on trial.
