South Africa’s presidency has explained why President Cyril Ramaphosa did not include Police Minister Senzo Mchunu among the officials singled out for further investigation following the interim findings of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
The explanation came after the commission submitted an interim report recommending immediate criminal investigations, urgent prosecutorial decisions and administrative action against several individuals implicated during hearings. The report also made recommendations on employment status, including the possible suspension of certain officials.
In the list made public by the presidency, five police officers and nine Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department officials were named for further action. The absence of Mchunu’s name, however, drew public attention, given that the minister has been repeatedly mentioned in testimony before the Madlanga Commission.
Mchunu, who is currently on special leave, has been accused by witnesses of disbanding the Political Killings Task Team, allegedly to protect organised criminal networks. More recently, an anonymous witness told the commission that the minister had pressured him to provide false testimony.
Responding to questions, presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the distinction lay in the employment status of those named. He explained that the individuals listed in the interim report were full-time employees of the state, making them subject to immediate administrative processes.
“Those officials are in the employ of the state, and therefore administrative steps can be taken without delay,” Magwenya said.
He added that Mchunu’s position was different because he is a political appointee. “Mr Mchunu is a political appointee. His matter will be dealt with through a political process that the president is responsible for,” he said.
Magwenya stressed that the president had not cleared the minister of wrongdoing. Instead, Ramaphosa wants Mchunu to follow due process, including appearing again before the Madlanga Commission to respond fully to the allegations made against him.
The spokesperson was also asked about the leadership situation within the police ministry, which currently includes two deputy ministers, an acting minister and a minister on special leave. Magwenya said the president was deeply concerned by the allegations emerging from the commission and by declining public confidence in the criminal justice system.
“He is concerned and unhappy, and wants to assure South Africans that every piece of evidence will be examined,” Magwenya said.
President Ramaphosa has previously committed to fully implementing the final recommendations of the Madlanga Commission, once its work is complete.
