South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on immediate leave amid allegations of links to organized crime, announcing a judicial commission to probe the claims.
Ramaphosa said the allegations, which include interference in investigations into political killings and corruption within law enforcement agencies, “call for an urgent and comprehensive investigation”.
Mchunu denied any wrongdoing, stating he “stood ready to respond to the accusations” against him. Law professor Firoz Cachalia has been appointed as interim police minister.
The allegations were made public by KwaZulu-Natal provincial police boss Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who claimed Mchunu received financial support from an allegedly corrupt businessman and orchestrated the disbandment of a task force investigating political killings.
