KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Accuses Senior Officials, Including Minister, of Corruption

KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, has made explosive allegations of corruption involving senior South African Police Service (SAPS) officials, including Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.

During a media briefing on Sunday, Mkhwanazi accused Minister Mchunu of maintaining close communication with individuals linked to criminal activities. He further revealed that SAPS has been in possession of firearms connected to the killings of high-profile South Africans, including artists in Gauteng, yet no action has been taken.

Key Allegations:

1. Minister’s Ties to Criminal Syndicates

   • Mkhwanazi presented evidence, including WhatsApp messages, showing communication between Minister Mchunu and an associate, Mr. Brown Mogotsi, who allegedly has access to classified police documents.

   • Mogotsi, described as a “comrade” of Mchunu, reportedly sent messages detailing the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) before it was officially announced.

2. Disbandment of Anti-Crime Task Team

   • Mkhwanazi claimed the PKTT was disbanded in December 2024 after uncovering a criminal syndicate involving politicians, police officers, prosecutors, and judiciary members in Gauteng.

   • The team had successfully prosecuted 128 accused persons, securing over 1,800 years in combined prison sentences for politically motivated crimes.

3. Firearms Linked to High-Profile Murders

   • Ballistic tests on weapons confiscated from suspects tied to a Transnet-linked murder also connected them to the killings of prominent artists in Gauteng dating back to 2021.

   • Despite this, Mkhwanazi alleged that no further investigations were pursued after the case dockets were withdrawn by a Deputy National Commissioner acting on Mchunu’s instructions.

4. Corruption in Police Contracts

   • A suspect, Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala, arrested for attempted murder, was allegedly awarded a R360 million SAPS contract in 2024.

   • Leaked messages suggest Matlala financially supported Minister Mchunu’s political activities, including travel and event funding.

5. Interference in Crime Intelligence

   • Mkhwanazi accused Mchunu of suspending appointments in Crime Intelligence, leaving key positions vacant and crippling operations.

   • A magistrate’s ruling barred Crime Intelligence officers from accessing their own offices, further disrupting investigations.

Minister Mchunu’s Denial & Fallout

• Mchunu previously denied knowing Brown Mogotsi in Parliament but later admitted their association in a recorded conversation.

• The Investigative Directorate Against Corruption (IDC), a unit meant to tackle state corruption, has been accused of targeting whistleblowers instead of syndicates.

Mkhwanazi’s Defiance

Despite the disbandment order, Mkhwanazi declared the PKTT remains operational, vowing to continue investigations into police infiltration by organized crime.

Public & Political Reaction

The allegations have sparked calls for an independent inquiry, with opposition parties demanding Mchunu’s resignation. Civil society groups warn that the claims, if proven, indicate deep-rooted corruption at the highest levels of SAPS.

As the scandal unfolds, pressure mounts on President Ramaphosa to intervene, with many questioning whether the government is truly committed to dismantling criminal networks within its ranks.