The African National Congress is once again under fire as Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and former minister Bheki Cele are officially summoned to appear before the party’s Integrity Commission, following damning allegations linking them to organized crime and corruption.
The storm was unleashed by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, whose explosive July 6 revelations exposed what he claims is a deeply entrenched criminal network involving politicians, police officials, and judicial insiders. At the center of the scandal is controversial businessman Vusumusi “Cat” Matlala—allegedly tied to a syndicate with far-reaching influence.
Cele is accused of enjoying a stay in Matlala’s luxury penthouse shortly before Matlala’s company landed a massive R360 million SAPS contract—a link that has raised serious red flags over possible abuse of power and state capture. Mchunu, meanwhile, is under intense scrutiny for allegedly disbanding a specialized task team probing political assassinations, which Mkhwanazi says was closing in on the very syndicate now in question.
While ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula has confirmed that Mchunu will face the commission, he emphasized that the party’s step-aside rule does not yet apply, citing the absence of formal criminal charges. However, the Integrity Commission hearings are expected to be anything but symbolic, as pressure mounts from both the public and within the ANC’s own ranks.
The details surrounding Cele’s appearance remain murky, but sources suggest both men will be grilled over their alleged proximity to corruption and organized crime. The outcome could prove pivotal for the ANC, a party already staggering under the weight of years of credibility erosion.
As the nation watches closely, this is more than just an internal probe—it’s a test of whether the ANC can still hold its own accountable, or whether the rot has spread too far.
