Public Protector
By Nkosana Khumalo
The Public Protector has confirmed an investigation into South African Police Minister Senzo Mchunu following serious allegations of political interference, abuse of power, and improper conduct. This probe, sparked by a complaint from African Transformation Movement (ATM) leader Vuyo Zungula, comes after explosive claims by KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Mkhwanazi accused Mchunu of dismantling the successful Political Killings Task Team, stalling critical investigations into a Gauteng-based drug syndicate, and protecting politically connected criminals. These revelations have ignited a firestorm across South Africa, raising urgent questions about corruption, public safety, and the integrity of the nation’s justice system.
A Bombshell Briefing Rocks the Nation
On Sunday, 6 July 2025, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi stood before the media at the KZN Police Headquarters in Durban, flanked by his deputies and tactical teams. What followed was a stunning exposé that shook South Africa to its core. Mkhwanazi alleged that Police Minister Senzo Mchunu had systematically undermined the country’s crime-fighting efforts. He pointed to the abrupt disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team—a unit formed in 2018 to tackle politically motivated violence—as a deliberate move to shield criminal networks with ties to powerful figures.
Mkhwanazi didn’t hold back. He claimed Mchunu ordered the team’s dissolution on 31 December 2024 and had 121 case dockets removed from their control by March 2025. These dockets, now gathering dust at SAPS headquarters in Pretoria, included five with arrest warrants ready to be executed. He accused Mchunu of colluding with businessman Brown Mogotsi and tender tycoon Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala—both allegedly linked to a Gauteng drug cartel—to protect criminals and derail investigations. WhatsApp messages, financial records, and ballistic evidence were presented as proof, implicating Mchunu, Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya, and senior Crime Intelligence officials in a web of corruption.
The allegations hit South Africa like a thunderbolt. With over 70 murders a day and drug syndicates operating unchecked, Mkhwanazi’s claims suggested that the rot started at the top. The fallout was immediate, with political parties, civil society, and the judiciary demanding answers.
The Public Protector Takes Action
The very next day, on 7 July 2025, ATM leader Vuyo Zungula filed a formal complaint with the Public Protector, urging an investigation into Mchunu’s conduct under the Executive Members Ethics Act (EMEA) of 1998. Zungula argued that Mchunu’s actions breached the Executive Ethics Code, pointing to the collapse of the Political Killings Task Team and alleged ties to criminal elements as evidence of misconduct.
On 10 July 2025, the Public Protector’s office, led by Acting Chief Operations Officer Adv. Nelisiwe Nkabinde, responded with a letter confirming the probe. The investigation will explore several key issues:
• Misleading Parliament: Did Mchunu lie about his relationship with Brown Mogotsi, denying knowledge of him in a March 2025 parliamentary session only to later admit Mogotsi was a “comrade”?
• Interference in SAPS Operations: Did Mchunu enable Mogotsi and Matlala to meddle in police operations, compromising investigations?
• Disbanding the Task Team: Was the Political Killings Task Team shut down irregularly, and if so, why?
• Protecting Criminals: Did Mchunu delay or derail investigations to shield criminal syndicates, as Mkhwanazi alleged?
• Conflict of Interest: Was there a conflict in awarding a R360 million SAPS contract to Matlala, who is now linked to funding Mchunu’s political activities?
The Public Protector’s office noted that the investigation, conducted under Section 182 of the Constitution and the Public Protector Act, won’t meet the EMEA’s 30-day deadline due to the complexity of the allegations. Nkabinde promised a thorough process, with the scope potentially widening as new evidence emerges. She committed to keeping Zungula updated, signaling a transparent approach to a case that could redefine accountability in South Africa’s government.
The Political Killings Task Team: A Success Story Cut Short
At the heart of this scandal lies the Political Killings Task Team, a multi-disciplinary unit established in July 2018 by an inter-ministerial committee (IMC) under President Cyril Ramaphosa. Comprising SAPS, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), State Security Agency (SSA), and Correctional Services, the team was tasked with tackling politically motivated violence—a scourge plaguing KZN and beyond. Its mandate later expanded to include the murders of traditional leaders in KZN and incidents at the University of Fort Hare in the Eastern Cape.
The team’s track record was impressive. Since its inception, it handled 612 cases, including murders, attempted murders, intimidation, and conspiracies. It secured 436 arrests, recovered 156 firearms (55 linked to political crimes), and arrested 35 SAPS officers for obstructing justice. Courts convicted 128 accused across 106 cases, handing down 29 life sentences and cumulative prison terms exceeding 1,881 years. These results made it one of SAPS’s most effective units, a beacon of hope in a country battered by crime.
Yet, Mkhwanazi alleges this success became its downfall. On 31 December 2024, Mchunu issued a letter disbanding the team and halting Crime Intelligence appointments. By March 2025, Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya, allegedly acting on Mchunu’s orders, removed 121 dockets from the team’s control. Mkhwanazi claims this move came after the team assisted Gauteng’s Organised Crime Investigation Unit in uncovering a syndicate involving politicians, police, prosecutors, and judiciary members—a syndicate tied to a drug cartel with roots in Gauteng and KZN.
Evidence of Corruption: WhatsApp Messages and Ballistic Links
Mkhwanazi’s briefing wasn’t just talk—he brought receipts. He revealed WhatsApp messages from Brown Mogotsi, a businessman from the North West, sent to him in September 2024. These messages included classified SAPS documents—like a police letter and an occurrence book entry—suggesting a plot to charge Mkhwanazi over a Correctional Services incident in Empangeni, KZN. Mogotsi also shared a screenshot of a Crime Intelligence presentation titled “2024/2025 Division Crime Intelligence Policies,” hinting at insider access. When pressed, Mogotsi replied, “Gen Khan will brief u next week,” and noted, “the Minister is briefed, he has just arrived in Lusikisiki.”
Further evidence emerged from Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s cellphone, seized after his arrest on 14 May 2025 for three counts of attempted murder. Matlala, a tender tycoon who secured a R360 million SAPS contract in 2024 (later cancelled in May 2025), allegedly communicated with Mogotsi and Mchunu. On 1 January 2025, Mogotsi texted Matlala: “I have arranged a meeting for Sibiya and the Minister, they must have a solution,” followed by, “The task team that came to your house and harassed you have been dissolved… they are bringing all dockets to Sibiya.” Proof of payments from Matlala to Mogotsi—for travel costs and a gala dinner in Cape Town on 8 January 2025—suggested financial support for Mchunu’s political activities.
Ballistic evidence added another layer. Firearms seized in Gauteng, including an AK-47 and pistol linked to the April 2024 murder of a Q-Tech employee, were tested by the task team. A report issued on 30 December 2024 connected these weapons to unsolved murders of high-profile South African artists since 2021. Mkhwanazi argued that disbanding the team the next day was no coincidence—it was a calculated move to bury these findings.
Mchunu’s Contradictions and Denials
Mchunu’s response has only fueled the controversy. In a March 2025 session before Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police, he denied knowing Brown Mogotsi when Mkhwanazi raised the issue. Yet, on 30 March 2025, in a recorded phone call posted on X under the handle @londcare, Mchunu admitted Mogotsi was a “comrade” from the North West. This flip-flop led the Democratic Alliance (DA) to accuse him of lying to Parliament—a criminal offence under the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act.
On 6 July 2025, Mchunu issued a statement rejecting Mkhwanazi’s “baseless allegations” as wild claims made without evidence. He said he was busy campaigning in Vryheid, KZN, ahead of 16 July by-elections, engaging communities on crime issues like stock theft. Mchunu denied meeting or speaking to Matlala, claiming he initiated a review of Matlala’s SAPS tender when suspicions arose—leading to its cancellation. He insisted Mogotsi was just a comrade, not an associate, and vowed to review Mkhwanazi’s statements for “appropriate action.” Mchunu reiterated his commitment to reducing murders, illegal firearms, drug trafficking, and gender-based violence, particularly in KZN, Gauteng, Eastern Cape, and Western Cape.
Political Fallout: A Nation Demands Answers
The allegations triggered a swift and fierce response. On 10 July 2025, DA Deputy Chief Whip Baxolile Nodada laid fraud charges against Mchunu at Cape Town Central Police Station, citing his contradictory statements about Mogotsi. The DA also filed a complaint with Parliament’s Ethics Committee, demanding accountability for what they called a “criminal act” of misleading lawmakers. Nodada criticized President Cyril Ramaphosa’s silence, accusing him of shielding Mchunu while ignoring other implicated Cabinet members like Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane and Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) branded the ANC-led government a “mafia state,” praising Mkhwanazi’s courage. EFF spokesperson Sinawo Thambo demanded an urgent Portfolio Committee on Police meeting to address the “explicit decline into lawlessness” within SAPS. They accused Mchunu of sabotaging investigations and claimed Matlala funded ANC events, reinforcing their view of a corrupt state protecting gangsters posing as leaders.
ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula confirmed Mchunu would face the party’s Integrity Commission, but stopped short of backing an external probe. He called Mkhwanazi’s allegations serious, warning they painted South Africa as a “banana republic” if true. The ANC expressed confidence that Ramaphosa would act decisively, urging a full investigation to restore public trust.
President Ramaphosa, returning from the BRICS Summit in Brazil on 10 July 2025, promised to address the nation on 13 July at 19:00. He called the issue a “matter of grave national security concern,” urging restraint to avoid undermining police unity. Critics, including Zungula, slammed his delayed response as politically motivated, suggesting Mchunu’s alleged role in concealing a Phala Phala scandal report tied Ramaphosa’s hands.
The Judiciary and Police Leadership React
Chief Justice Mandisa Maya hit back at Mkhwanazi’s claims of judicial collusion, issuing a statement on 10 July 2025. She called the allegations “extremely damaging” to public confidence in the courts, demanding evidence and formal complaints to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) or Magistrates Commission. Maya stressed the judiciary’s commitment to impartiality, warning that “unsubstantiated allegations undermine the administration of justice.”
National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola defended Mkhwanazi’s right to brief the media, noting provincial commissioners have that prerogative. In a virtual briefing on 10 July, Masemola confirmed Mkhwanazi’s security had been bolstered amid threats but deferred comment on the allegations to Ramaphosa’s intervention. He emphasized SAPS’s constitutional duty to fight crime, announcing the destruction of 12,499 firearms that day—part of 291,993 destroyed over five years—as a symbolic blow against violence.
Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya, directly implicated, dismissed Mkhwanazi’s claims as “untrue” in an SABC interview. He challenged Mkhwanazi to produce evidence, denying any role in disbanding the task team or stalling investigations. Sibiya accused Mkhwanazi of “behaving like a warlord” and disrespecting authority, claiming their last conversation on 4 July 2025 showed no hint of discord. He insisted he pushed for arrests in the AKA murder case, countering Mkhwanazi’s narrative.
A Deeper Crisis: Crime, Drugs, and Public Safety
Mkhwanazi’s allegations go beyond personal vendettas—they expose a systemic crisis. The Political Killings Task Team’s successes—379 arrests and 70 convictions, including 20 life sentences—highlighted its effectiveness. Yet, its dismantling coincided with its probe into a Gauteng syndicate tied to politicians and police, raising suspicions of a cover-up. Ballistic links to artist murders since 2021, including the unresolved AKA case, suggest a broader failure to tackle high-profile crimes.
South Africa’s crime statistics paint a grim picture: 70 murders daily, rampant drug trafficking, and illegal firearms fueling violence. Mkhwanazi warned of a drug cartel importing substances from South America via Durban and Gqeberha, processed in Gauteng, and distributed nationwide. He linked youth violence in KZN to these drugs, arguing that removing them could transform communities. The absence of a Crime Intelligence head since Mchunu’s December 2024 directive has left SAPS vulnerable, unable to infiltrate syndicates effectively.
The Investigative Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) stepped in on 30 May 2025, seizing Matlala’s phone contents. The arrest of the task team’s project coordinator, Lieutenant General Khumalo, on 25 June, followed by Katiso Molefe’s bail on 26 June, suggests internal sabotage. Mkhwanazi claims these moves compromised Gauteng’s organised crime efforts, protecting the syndicate’s key players.
Parliament and Civil Society Step Up
National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza directed the Portfolio Committees on Police, Justice, and Constitutional Development, plus the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence, to urgently investigate Mkhwanazi’s claims. She welcomed Ramaphosa’s pledge to act, while two parties requested a snap debate. Parliament spokesperson Moloto Mothapo confirmed these steps, noting the allegations’ “implications for national security.”
The Portfolio Committee on Police chairperson, Ian Cameron, went further, calling for a commission of inquiry into SAPS integrity. On 7 July, he wrote to Didiza, citing “deep dysfunction and alleged collusion” within police leadership. Cameron proposed lifestyle audits and vetting for senior officers, a reconfigured Crime Intelligence unit, and better resourcing for the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID). He warned that, if true, these allegations explain South Africa’s failure to curb rising crime.
Civil society echoed these calls. Security analyst Mary de Haas, who in January 2025 demanded a forensic review of the task team, now sees its disbandment as politically motivated. Ordinary South Africans, reeling from daily violence, expressed outrage online, demanding arrests over press conferences. ANCYL President Collen Malatji bluntly stated, “If Mkhwanazi has evidence, he must arrest those involved… we don’t need statements; we need action.”
Key Players: Who’s Who in the Scandal
• Senzo Mchunu: Police Minister, accused of disbanding the task team, protecting criminals, and misleading Parliament about ties to Mogotsi and Matlala.
• Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi: KZN Police Commissioner, the whistleblower risking his career to expose corruption, vowing to fight until the end.
• Brown Mogotsi: A North West businessman and Mchunu’s “comrade,” allegedly leaking classified SAPS info and coordinating with Matlala.
• Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala: Tender tycoon with a R360 million SAPS contract (cancelled May 2025), arrested for attempted murder, and linked to funding Mchunu’s political activities.
• Shadrack Sibiya: Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection, accused of executing Mchunu’s orders to remove dockets and stall probes.
• Fannie Masemola: National Police Commissioner, caught in the middle, supporting Mkhwanazi’s media rights but deferring to Ramaphosa.
• Vuyo Zungula: ATM leader who triggered the Public Protector probe, pushing for accountability.
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