South African president suspends police minister
Mchunu denied the allegations by Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, police commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal province, at a media briefing last Sunday.
He said the accusations were baseless and in a statement issued by his spokesperson last week said he was committed to upholding the rule of law.
Ramaphosa, whose rise to the highest office was built on promises to fight corruption, has been under pressure to act swiftly as political parties and citizens said the allegations called into question the integrity of the criminal justice system.
Investors have for years expressed concern over rampant crime that the World Bank estimates costs South Africa an estimated 10 per cent of gross domestic product each year.
"These allegations therefore call for an urgent and comprehensive investigation," Ramaphosa said in a public address, adding he would establish a judicial commission of inquiry for this purpose.
Ramaphosa said he will appoint law professor Firoz Cachalia as acting minister of police.
Mchunu is a senior figure in Ramaphosa's African National Congress (ANC) party, and political analysts have said he could run for a leadership position at the ANC's next elective conference in 2027.
Citing digital evidence such as WhatsApp messages, Mkhwanazi's allegations included that Mchunu had disbanded a police unit tasked with investigating politically motivated killings to protect politicians, police officers and other people linked to a criminal syndicate.
Mkhwanazi said more than 100 case files were taken away from the political killings task team and have not been investigated further since.
The Democratic Alliance party, the ANC's main coalition partner, called for a parliamentary inquiry into the allegations against Mchunu.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed police minister Senzo Mchunu on immediate leave of absence, following accusations by a top police official that he had colluded with a criminal syndicate and interfered in high-profile investigations.
Mchunu denied the allegations by Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, police commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal province, at a media briefing last Sunday.
He said the accusations were baseless and in a statement issued by his spokesperson last week said he was committed to upholding the rule of law.
Ramaphosa, whose rise to the highest office was built on promises to fight corruption, has been under pressure to act swiftly as political parties and citizens said the allegations called into question the integrity of the criminal justice system.
Investors have for years expressed concern over rampant crime that the World Bank estimates costs South Africa an estimated 10 per cent of gross domestic product each year.
"These allegations therefore call for an urgent and comprehensive investigation," Ramaphosa said in a public address, adding he would establish a judicial commission of inquiry for this purpose.
Ramaphosa said he will appoint law professor Firoz Cachalia as acting minister of police.
Mchunu is a senior figure in Ramaphosa's African National Congress (ANC) party, and political analysts have said he could run for a leadership position at the ANC's next elective conference in 2027.
Citing digital evidence such as WhatsApp messages, Mkhwanazi's allegations included that Mchunu had disbanded a police unit tasked with investigating politically motivated killings to protect politicians, police officers and other people linked to a criminal syndicate.
Mkhwanazi said more than 100 case files were taken away from the political killings task team and have not been investigated further since.
The Democratic Alliance party, the ANC's main coalition partner, called for a parliamentary inquiry into the allegations against Mchunu.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed police minister Senzo Mchunu on immediate leave of absence, following accusations by a top police official that he had colluded with a criminal syndicate and interfered in high-profile investigations.
Mchunu denied the allegations by Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, police commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal province, at a media briefing last Sunday.
He said the accusations were baseless and in a statement issued by his spokesperson last week said he was committed to upholding the rule of law.
Ramaphosa, whose rise to the highest office was built on promises to fight corruption, has been under pressure to act swiftly as political parties and citizens said the allegations called into question the integrity of the criminal justice system.
Investors have for years expressed concern over rampant crime that the World Bank estimates costs South Africa an estimated 10 per cent of gross domestic product each year.
"These allegations therefore call for an urgent and comprehensive investigation," Ramaphosa said in a public address, adding he would establish a judicial commission of inquiry for this purpose.
Ramaphosa said he will appoint law professor Firoz Cachalia as acting minister of police.
Mchunu is a senior figure in Ramaphosa's African National Congress (ANC) party, and political analysts have said he could run for a leadership position at the ANC's next elective conference in 2027.
Citing digital evidence such as WhatsApp messages, Mkhwanazi's allegations included that Mchunu had disbanded a police unit tasked with investigating politically motivated killings to protect politicians, police officers and other people linked to a criminal syndicate.
Mkhwanazi said more than 100 case files were taken away from the political killings task team and have not been investigated further since.
The Democratic Alliance party, the ANC's main coalition partner, called for a parliamentary inquiry into the allegations against Mchunu.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed police minister Senzo Mchunu on immediate leave of absence, following accusations by a top police official that he had colluded with a criminal syndicate and interfered in high-profile investigations.
Mchunu denied the allegations by Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, police commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal province, at a media briefing last Sunday.
He said the accusations were baseless and in a statement issued by his spokesperson last week said he was committed to upholding the rule of law.
Ramaphosa, whose rise to the highest office was built on promises to fight corruption, has been under pressure to act swiftly as political parties and citizens said the allegations called into question the integrity of the criminal justice system.
Investors have for years expressed concern over rampant crime that the World Bank estimates costs South Africa an estimated 10 per cent of gross domestic product each year.
"These allegations therefore call for an urgent and comprehensive investigation," Ramaphosa said in a public address, adding he would establish a judicial commission of inquiry for this purpose.
Ramaphosa said he will appoint law professor Firoz Cachalia as acting minister of police.
Mchunu is a senior figure in Ramaphosa's African National Congress (ANC) party, and political analysts have said he could run for a leadership position at the ANC's next elective conference in 2027.
Citing digital evidence such as WhatsApp messages, Mkhwanazi's allegations included that Mchunu had disbanded a police unit tasked with investigating politically motivated killings to protect politicians, police officers and other people linked to a criminal syndicate.
Mkhwanazi said more than 100 case files were taken away from the political killings task team and have not been investigated further since.
The Democratic Alliance party, the ANC's main coalition partner, called for a parliamentary inquiry into the allegations against Mchunu.
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The Advertiser
8 hours ago
- The Advertiser
'Give me 50 bucks an hour off the top': Newcastle engineer in alleged corruption web
A FORMER Transport for NSW engineer based in Newcastle is suspected of pocketing more than $100,000 in "kickbacks" and becoming entangled in a web of corruption with his colleague, Ibrahim Helmy, at the centre. The alleged rigging and inflation of contracts by Transport for NSW procurement officer Mr Helmy, who is in hiding, between 2012 and 2024 has come under the microscope of the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). ICAC is investigating allegations Mr Helmy was involved in corrupt relationships with companies that were paid at least $343 million in contracts. A public inquiry started on Monday. Former Newcastle-based senior projects engineer David Liu has been dragged into the proceedings, with counsel assisting Rob Ranken, SC, detailing how he allegedly helped Mr Helmy submit inflated work orders and had a corrupt arrangement of his own. Investigations led to raids in September on the head office of Protection Barriers, one of the state's biggest roadworks companies. Founder Jason Chellew gave evidence at the inquiry on July 14. At one stage, Mr Chellew said he had a direct arrangement with Mr Liu regarding a truck hire arrangement. Mr Chellew told the inquiry he supplied a truck and an operator on an hourly basis, charging Transport for NSW $200 an hour, but $50 of that was a "kickback" for Mr Liu. Mr Chellew said he was not "100 per cent sure" how the arrangement "really got going" but that he recalled Mr Liu suggesting he could keep the truck in work when it would otherwise have run out, but "give me 50 bucks an hour off the top". Mr Chellew gave evidence that he communicated with Mr Liu on Whatsapp and had met him at locations across the Hunter region, including a Taree Caltex, Beresfield Bunnings and a storage facility at Tomago, to hand over cash. He said he had not reported Mr Liu to Transport for NSW about the arrangement Mr Liu had allegedly suggested. Mr Ranken, SC, said in his opening address that he expected the evidence to show that Mr Liu received between $100,000 and $150,000 from Mr Chellew as part of the hire truck arrangement. He said Mr Liu worked for Transport for NSW between 2008 and 2025, when he resigned after the discovery of his suspected corrupt conduct. Mr Helmy, who was terminated by the agency in February, is suspected to have received more than $11.5 million from the alleged scheme, which involved contracts worth more than $343 million. He is wanted by police and is believed to be in hiding after a failed attempt to leave Australia on a US passport in September. The principal - but not only - official involved in the ICAC inquiry is Mr Helmy. Mr Chellew told the inquiry on Monday that Mr Helmy "proposed giving us jobs for kickbacks". "I didn't really want to do it, but that's what we did at the time," he said. Under the deal, beginning in 2020, Helmy allocated roadworks contracts to Mr Chellew's company at inflated rates, with the amount "on top" split evenly between them. About a year later, 80 per cent of Protection Barriers' work was coming from Transport for NSW, Mr Chellew said. Protection Barriers secured jobs worth about $100 million over four years, counsel assisting the inquiry Rob Ranken SC said. Mr Chellew said he initially paid cash, but as the work "went crazy", difficulties withdrawing sufficient sums prompted a switch to cryptocurrency. He said he even once brought gold to a Sydney petrol station in 2023 in a bid to "pacify" Helmy. Helmy, who joined Transport for NSW as a graduate in 2010, has been wanted by police since May after failing to appear when summoned. It is alleged Helmy formed corrupt relationships with several other agency contractors and colleagues, including the Newcastle-based Mr Liu. The probe is the fourth public inquiry since 2019 into claims of corruption in procurement at Transport for NSW, which is responsible for a $23 billion annual budget. The inquiry continues on Tuesday and public hearings are expected to run for six weeks. A FORMER Transport for NSW engineer based in Newcastle is suspected of pocketing more than $100,000 in "kickbacks" and becoming entangled in a web of corruption with his colleague, Ibrahim Helmy, at the centre. The alleged rigging and inflation of contracts by Transport for NSW procurement officer Mr Helmy, who is in hiding, between 2012 and 2024 has come under the microscope of the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). ICAC is investigating allegations Mr Helmy was involved in corrupt relationships with companies that were paid at least $343 million in contracts. A public inquiry started on Monday. Former Newcastle-based senior projects engineer David Liu has been dragged into the proceedings, with counsel assisting Rob Ranken, SC, detailing how he allegedly helped Mr Helmy submit inflated work orders and had a corrupt arrangement of his own. Investigations led to raids in September on the head office of Protection Barriers, one of the state's biggest roadworks companies. Founder Jason Chellew gave evidence at the inquiry on July 14. At one stage, Mr Chellew said he had a direct arrangement with Mr Liu regarding a truck hire arrangement. Mr Chellew told the inquiry he supplied a truck and an operator on an hourly basis, charging Transport for NSW $200 an hour, but $50 of that was a "kickback" for Mr Liu. Mr Chellew said he was not "100 per cent sure" how the arrangement "really got going" but that he recalled Mr Liu suggesting he could keep the truck in work when it would otherwise have run out, but "give me 50 bucks an hour off the top". Mr Chellew gave evidence that he communicated with Mr Liu on Whatsapp and had met him at locations across the Hunter region, including a Taree Caltex, Beresfield Bunnings and a storage facility at Tomago, to hand over cash. He said he had not reported Mr Liu to Transport for NSW about the arrangement Mr Liu had allegedly suggested. Mr Ranken, SC, said in his opening address that he expected the evidence to show that Mr Liu received between $100,000 and $150,000 from Mr Chellew as part of the hire truck arrangement. He said Mr Liu worked for Transport for NSW between 2008 and 2025, when he resigned after the discovery of his suspected corrupt conduct. Mr Helmy, who was terminated by the agency in February, is suspected to have received more than $11.5 million from the alleged scheme, which involved contracts worth more than $343 million. He is wanted by police and is believed to be in hiding after a failed attempt to leave Australia on a US passport in September. The principal - but not only - official involved in the ICAC inquiry is Mr Helmy. Mr Chellew told the inquiry on Monday that Mr Helmy "proposed giving us jobs for kickbacks". "I didn't really want to do it, but that's what we did at the time," he said. Under the deal, beginning in 2020, Helmy allocated roadworks contracts to Mr Chellew's company at inflated rates, with the amount "on top" split evenly between them. About a year later, 80 per cent of Protection Barriers' work was coming from Transport for NSW, Mr Chellew said. Protection Barriers secured jobs worth about $100 million over four years, counsel assisting the inquiry Rob Ranken SC said. Mr Chellew said he initially paid cash, but as the work "went crazy", difficulties withdrawing sufficient sums prompted a switch to cryptocurrency. He said he even once brought gold to a Sydney petrol station in 2023 in a bid to "pacify" Helmy. Helmy, who joined Transport for NSW as a graduate in 2010, has been wanted by police since May after failing to appear when summoned. It is alleged Helmy formed corrupt relationships with several other agency contractors and colleagues, including the Newcastle-based Mr Liu. The probe is the fourth public inquiry since 2019 into claims of corruption in procurement at Transport for NSW, which is responsible for a $23 billion annual budget. The inquiry continues on Tuesday and public hearings are expected to run for six weeks. A FORMER Transport for NSW engineer based in Newcastle is suspected of pocketing more than $100,000 in "kickbacks" and becoming entangled in a web of corruption with his colleague, Ibrahim Helmy, at the centre. The alleged rigging and inflation of contracts by Transport for NSW procurement officer Mr Helmy, who is in hiding, between 2012 and 2024 has come under the microscope of the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). ICAC is investigating allegations Mr Helmy was involved in corrupt relationships with companies that were paid at least $343 million in contracts. A public inquiry started on Monday. Former Newcastle-based senior projects engineer David Liu has been dragged into the proceedings, with counsel assisting Rob Ranken, SC, detailing how he allegedly helped Mr Helmy submit inflated work orders and had a corrupt arrangement of his own. Investigations led to raids in September on the head office of Protection Barriers, one of the state's biggest roadworks companies. Founder Jason Chellew gave evidence at the inquiry on July 14. At one stage, Mr Chellew said he had a direct arrangement with Mr Liu regarding a truck hire arrangement. Mr Chellew told the inquiry he supplied a truck and an operator on an hourly basis, charging Transport for NSW $200 an hour, but $50 of that was a "kickback" for Mr Liu. Mr Chellew said he was not "100 per cent sure" how the arrangement "really got going" but that he recalled Mr Liu suggesting he could keep the truck in work when it would otherwise have run out, but "give me 50 bucks an hour off the top". Mr Chellew gave evidence that he communicated with Mr Liu on Whatsapp and had met him at locations across the Hunter region, including a Taree Caltex, Beresfield Bunnings and a storage facility at Tomago, to hand over cash. He said he had not reported Mr Liu to Transport for NSW about the arrangement Mr Liu had allegedly suggested. Mr Ranken, SC, said in his opening address that he expected the evidence to show that Mr Liu received between $100,000 and $150,000 from Mr Chellew as part of the hire truck arrangement. He said Mr Liu worked for Transport for NSW between 2008 and 2025, when he resigned after the discovery of his suspected corrupt conduct. Mr Helmy, who was terminated by the agency in February, is suspected to have received more than $11.5 million from the alleged scheme, which involved contracts worth more than $343 million. He is wanted by police and is believed to be in hiding after a failed attempt to leave Australia on a US passport in September. The principal - but not only - official involved in the ICAC inquiry is Mr Helmy. Mr Chellew told the inquiry on Monday that Mr Helmy "proposed giving us jobs for kickbacks". "I didn't really want to do it, but that's what we did at the time," he said. Under the deal, beginning in 2020, Helmy allocated roadworks contracts to Mr Chellew's company at inflated rates, with the amount "on top" split evenly between them. About a year later, 80 per cent of Protection Barriers' work was coming from Transport for NSW, Mr Chellew said. Protection Barriers secured jobs worth about $100 million over four years, counsel assisting the inquiry Rob Ranken SC said. Mr Chellew said he initially paid cash, but as the work "went crazy", difficulties withdrawing sufficient sums prompted a switch to cryptocurrency. He said he even once brought gold to a Sydney petrol station in 2023 in a bid to "pacify" Helmy. Helmy, who joined Transport for NSW as a graduate in 2010, has been wanted by police since May after failing to appear when summoned. It is alleged Helmy formed corrupt relationships with several other agency contractors and colleagues, including the Newcastle-based Mr Liu. The probe is the fourth public inquiry since 2019 into claims of corruption in procurement at Transport for NSW, which is responsible for a $23 billion annual budget. The inquiry continues on Tuesday and public hearings are expected to run for six weeks. A FORMER Transport for NSW engineer based in Newcastle is suspected of pocketing more than $100,000 in "kickbacks" and becoming entangled in a web of corruption with his colleague, Ibrahim Helmy, at the centre. The alleged rigging and inflation of contracts by Transport for NSW procurement officer Mr Helmy, who is in hiding, between 2012 and 2024 has come under the microscope of the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). ICAC is investigating allegations Mr Helmy was involved in corrupt relationships with companies that were paid at least $343 million in contracts. A public inquiry started on Monday. Former Newcastle-based senior projects engineer David Liu has been dragged into the proceedings, with counsel assisting Rob Ranken, SC, detailing how he allegedly helped Mr Helmy submit inflated work orders and had a corrupt arrangement of his own. Investigations led to raids in September on the head office of Protection Barriers, one of the state's biggest roadworks companies. Founder Jason Chellew gave evidence at the inquiry on July 14. At one stage, Mr Chellew said he had a direct arrangement with Mr Liu regarding a truck hire arrangement. Mr Chellew told the inquiry he supplied a truck and an operator on an hourly basis, charging Transport for NSW $200 an hour, but $50 of that was a "kickback" for Mr Liu. Mr Chellew said he was not "100 per cent sure" how the arrangement "really got going" but that he recalled Mr Liu suggesting he could keep the truck in work when it would otherwise have run out, but "give me 50 bucks an hour off the top". Mr Chellew gave evidence that he communicated with Mr Liu on Whatsapp and had met him at locations across the Hunter region, including a Taree Caltex, Beresfield Bunnings and a storage facility at Tomago, to hand over cash. He said he had not reported Mr Liu to Transport for NSW about the arrangement Mr Liu had allegedly suggested. Mr Ranken, SC, said in his opening address that he expected the evidence to show that Mr Liu received between $100,000 and $150,000 from Mr Chellew as part of the hire truck arrangement. He said Mr Liu worked for Transport for NSW between 2008 and 2025, when he resigned after the discovery of his suspected corrupt conduct. Mr Helmy, who was terminated by the agency in February, is suspected to have received more than $11.5 million from the alleged scheme, which involved contracts worth more than $343 million. He is wanted by police and is believed to be in hiding after a failed attempt to leave Australia on a US passport in September. The principal - but not only - official involved in the ICAC inquiry is Mr Helmy. Mr Chellew told the inquiry on Monday that Mr Helmy "proposed giving us jobs for kickbacks". "I didn't really want to do it, but that's what we did at the time," he said. Under the deal, beginning in 2020, Helmy allocated roadworks contracts to Mr Chellew's company at inflated rates, with the amount "on top" split evenly between them. About a year later, 80 per cent of Protection Barriers' work was coming from Transport for NSW, Mr Chellew said. Protection Barriers secured jobs worth about $100 million over four years, counsel assisting the inquiry Rob Ranken SC said. Mr Chellew said he initially paid cash, but as the work "went crazy", difficulties withdrawing sufficient sums prompted a switch to cryptocurrency. He said he even once brought gold to a Sydney petrol station in 2023 in a bid to "pacify" Helmy. Helmy, who joined Transport for NSW as a graduate in 2010, has been wanted by police since May after failing to appear when summoned. It is alleged Helmy formed corrupt relationships with several other agency contractors and colleagues, including the Newcastle-based Mr Liu. The probe is the fourth public inquiry since 2019 into claims of corruption in procurement at Transport for NSW, which is responsible for a $23 billion annual budget. The inquiry continues on Tuesday and public hearings are expected to run for six weeks.
The Advertiser
a day ago
- The Advertiser
South African president suspends police minister
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed police minister Senzo Mchunu on immediate leave of absence, following accusations by a top police official that he had colluded with a criminal syndicate and interfered in high-profile investigations. Mchunu denied the allegations by Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, police commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal province, at a media briefing last Sunday. He said the accusations were baseless and in a statement issued by his spokesperson last week said he was committed to upholding the rule of law. Ramaphosa, whose rise to the highest office was built on promises to fight corruption, has been under pressure to act swiftly as political parties and citizens said the allegations called into question the integrity of the criminal justice system. Investors have for years expressed concern over rampant crime that the World Bank estimates costs South Africa an estimated 10 per cent of gross domestic product each year. "These allegations therefore call for an urgent and comprehensive investigation," Ramaphosa said in a public address, adding he would establish a judicial commission of inquiry for this purpose. Ramaphosa said he will appoint law professor Firoz Cachalia as acting minister of police. Mchunu is a senior figure in Ramaphosa's African National Congress (ANC) party, and political analysts have said he could run for a leadership position at the ANC's next elective conference in 2027. Citing digital evidence such as WhatsApp messages, Mkhwanazi's allegations included that Mchunu had disbanded a police unit tasked with investigating politically motivated killings to protect politicians, police officers and other people linked to a criminal syndicate. Mkhwanazi said more than 100 case files were taken away from the political killings task team and have not been investigated further since. The Democratic Alliance party, the ANC's main coalition partner, called for a parliamentary inquiry into the allegations against Mchunu. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed police minister Senzo Mchunu on immediate leave of absence, following accusations by a top police official that he had colluded with a criminal syndicate and interfered in high-profile investigations. Mchunu denied the allegations by Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, police commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal province, at a media briefing last Sunday. He said the accusations were baseless and in a statement issued by his spokesperson last week said he was committed to upholding the rule of law. Ramaphosa, whose rise to the highest office was built on promises to fight corruption, has been under pressure to act swiftly as political parties and citizens said the allegations called into question the integrity of the criminal justice system. Investors have for years expressed concern over rampant crime that the World Bank estimates costs South Africa an estimated 10 per cent of gross domestic product each year. "These allegations therefore call for an urgent and comprehensive investigation," Ramaphosa said in a public address, adding he would establish a judicial commission of inquiry for this purpose. Ramaphosa said he will appoint law professor Firoz Cachalia as acting minister of police. Mchunu is a senior figure in Ramaphosa's African National Congress (ANC) party, and political analysts have said he could run for a leadership position at the ANC's next elective conference in 2027. Citing digital evidence such as WhatsApp messages, Mkhwanazi's allegations included that Mchunu had disbanded a police unit tasked with investigating politically motivated killings to protect politicians, police officers and other people linked to a criminal syndicate. Mkhwanazi said more than 100 case files were taken away from the political killings task team and have not been investigated further since. The Democratic Alliance party, the ANC's main coalition partner, called for a parliamentary inquiry into the allegations against Mchunu. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed police minister Senzo Mchunu on immediate leave of absence, following accusations by a top police official that he had colluded with a criminal syndicate and interfered in high-profile investigations. Mchunu denied the allegations by Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, police commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal province, at a media briefing last Sunday. He said the accusations were baseless and in a statement issued by his spokesperson last week said he was committed to upholding the rule of law. Ramaphosa, whose rise to the highest office was built on promises to fight corruption, has been under pressure to act swiftly as political parties and citizens said the allegations called into question the integrity of the criminal justice system. Investors have for years expressed concern over rampant crime that the World Bank estimates costs South Africa an estimated 10 per cent of gross domestic product each year. "These allegations therefore call for an urgent and comprehensive investigation," Ramaphosa said in a public address, adding he would establish a judicial commission of inquiry for this purpose. Ramaphosa said he will appoint law professor Firoz Cachalia as acting minister of police. Mchunu is a senior figure in Ramaphosa's African National Congress (ANC) party, and political analysts have said he could run for a leadership position at the ANC's next elective conference in 2027. Citing digital evidence such as WhatsApp messages, Mkhwanazi's allegations included that Mchunu had disbanded a police unit tasked with investigating politically motivated killings to protect politicians, police officers and other people linked to a criminal syndicate. Mkhwanazi said more than 100 case files were taken away from the political killings task team and have not been investigated further since. The Democratic Alliance party, the ANC's main coalition partner, called for a parliamentary inquiry into the allegations against Mchunu. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed police minister Senzo Mchunu on immediate leave of absence, following accusations by a top police official that he had colluded with a criminal syndicate and interfered in high-profile investigations. Mchunu denied the allegations by Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, police commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal province, at a media briefing last Sunday. He said the accusations were baseless and in a statement issued by his spokesperson last week said he was committed to upholding the rule of law. Ramaphosa, whose rise to the highest office was built on promises to fight corruption, has been under pressure to act swiftly as political parties and citizens said the allegations called into question the integrity of the criminal justice system. Investors have for years expressed concern over rampant crime that the World Bank estimates costs South Africa an estimated 10 per cent of gross domestic product each year. "These allegations therefore call for an urgent and comprehensive investigation," Ramaphosa said in a public address, adding he would establish a judicial commission of inquiry for this purpose. Ramaphosa said he will appoint law professor Firoz Cachalia as acting minister of police. Mchunu is a senior figure in Ramaphosa's African National Congress (ANC) party, and political analysts have said he could run for a leadership position at the ANC's next elective conference in 2027. Citing digital evidence such as WhatsApp messages, Mkhwanazi's allegations included that Mchunu had disbanded a police unit tasked with investigating politically motivated killings to protect politicians, police officers and other people linked to a criminal syndicate. Mkhwanazi said more than 100 case files were taken away from the political killings task team and have not been investigated further since. The Democratic Alliance party, the ANC's main coalition partner, called for a parliamentary inquiry into the allegations against Mchunu.
Perth Now
a day ago
- Perth Now
South African president suspends police minister
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed police minister Senzo Mchunu on immediate leave of absence, following accusations by a top police official that he had colluded with a criminal syndicate and interfered in high-profile investigations. Mchunu denied the allegations by Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, police commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal province, at a media briefing last Sunday. He said the accusations were baseless and in a statement issued by his spokesperson last week said he was committed to upholding the rule of law. Ramaphosa, whose rise to the highest office was built on promises to fight corruption, has been under pressure to act swiftly as political parties and citizens said the allegations called into question the integrity of the criminal justice system. Investors have for years expressed concern over rampant crime that the World Bank estimates costs South Africa an estimated 10 per cent of gross domestic product each year. "These allegations therefore call for an urgent and comprehensive investigation," Ramaphosa said in a public address, adding he would establish a judicial commission of inquiry for this purpose. Ramaphosa said he will appoint law professor Firoz Cachalia as acting minister of police. Mchunu is a senior figure in Ramaphosa's African National Congress (ANC) party, and political analysts have said he could run for a leadership position at the ANC's next elective conference in 2027. Citing digital evidence such as WhatsApp messages, Mkhwanazi's allegations included that Mchunu had disbanded a police unit tasked with investigating politically motivated killings to protect politicians, police officers and other people linked to a criminal syndicate. Mkhwanazi said more than 100 case files were taken away from the political killings task team and have not been investigated further since. The Democratic Alliance party, the ANC's main coalition partner, called for a parliamentary inquiry into the allegations against Mchunu.
