President Cyril Ramaphosa has admitted he was taken by surprise by General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s explosive allegations against Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, highlighting deep fissures at the heart of South Africa’s security apparatus.
During a tense press briefing in Durban, KwaZulu‑Natal Police Commissioner Mkhwanazi accused Minister Mchunu—and his deputy, Lt‑Gen Shadrack Sibiya—of deliberately obstructing investigations into politically motivated killings. He claimed they disbanded the specialized Political Killings Task Team, removed 121 case files in March 2025, and sheltered a powerful syndicate linking politicians, police, judiciary, and business figures with drug cartels.
Mchunu swiftly denied the allegations, labeling them “baseless” and insisting that any claims would be subjected to “urgent, thorough and transparent investigation … on a proper platform.” Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Sibiya also dismissed the accusation as nonsensical.
Amid escalating political shockwaves—including calls from the ANC, DA, and EFF for Mchunu’s suspension—Ramaphosa, speaking from the BRICS summit in Brazil, acknowledged he had “not been formally briefed” before Mkhwanazi’s public disclosure. He described the affair as “a matter of grave national security concern,” urging all parties to handle the turmoil with “discipline and restraint” to preserve public confidence. He promised decisive action upon his return home.
The explosive allegations have thrown the ANC into disarray. Secretary‑General Fikile Mbalula affirmed that the matter is being treated with urgency, reaffirming the party’s commitment to accountability and non-interference in law enforcement, especially concerning whistle‑blowers like Mkhwanazi.
At the centre of this unfolding drama is Mkhwanazi himself—an admired career officer who began as a constable in 1993 and rose through the ranks, including with the elite Special Task Force. He has become a defiant symbol of integrity, vowing, “I will die for this badge,” and crystallizing a powerful stand against political meddling in policing.
