ANC top brass set to meet following serious corruption allegations against police miniter
Last week, KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi made damning claims of political interference in the SAPS task team investigating political killings.
Mkhwanazi named Mchunu among those he believes interfered, accusing him of disbanding the unit to protect controversial businessman Vusumuzi Matlala.
Speaking to reporters in Mpumalanga on Friday, ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula said the party would place this issue on the agenda.
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TimesLIVE
16 minutes ago
- TimesLIVE
Ramaphosa places police minister Mchunu on special leave
President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed minister of police Senzo Mchunu on special leave, replacing him with Prof Firoz Cachalia, who will take up the post in August. Ramaphosa also announced that he has established a judicial commission of inquiry chaired by acting deputy chief justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga to investigate allegations relating to the infiltration of law enforcement, intelligence and associated institutions within the criminal justice system by criminal syndicates. He said the commission is expected to complete its work and submit a final report to the president, adding that interim reports are expected after three and six months, respectively. The commission's final report will be sent to the speaker of the National Assembly and the chief justice, he said. This comes after KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkwanazi shocked the country when he revealed cracks in the highest levels of the police, where rival factions are fighting for control of the crime intelligence division. Ramaphosa said Mkwanazi's media briefing raised serious concerns around the constitution, the rule of law and national security. He said the allegations, if proven true, threaten to undermine the confidence of South Africans in the ability of the South African Police Service to protect them and to effectively fight crime and corruption. Mkhwanazi alleged that a police investigation by the task team that was operating in Gauteng unmasked a syndicate controlled by a drug cartel, which involves politicians, law enforcement officials from the SAPS, Metro Police, Correctional Services, prosecutors and the judiciary, as well as business people. Justice Madlanga's commission will be assisted by advocates Sesi Baloyi SC and Sandile Khumalo SC. Among the allegations that the commission may investigate are the facilitation of organised crime; suppression or manipulation of investigations; inducement into criminal actions by law enforcement leadership; commission of any other criminal offences and intimidation, victimisation or targeted removal of whistle-blowers or officials resisting criminal influence. Ramaphosa said the commission will investigate the role of current or former senior officials in certain institutions who may have aided or abetted the alleged criminal activity; failed to act on credible intelligence or internal warnings; or benefited financially or politically from a syndicate's operations. These institutions are the SAPS, National Prosecuting Authority, State Security Agency, the judiciary and magistracy, and the metropolitan police departments of Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane. He said the commission will also investigate whether any members of the national executive responsible for the criminal justice system were complicit, aided and abetted, or participated in the acts mentioned above. The commission will also be asked to report on the effectiveness or failure of oversight mechanisms, and the adequacy of current legislation, policies and institutional arrangements in preventing such infiltration. 'It will make findings and recommendations for criminal prosecutions, disciplinary actions and institutional reform. Once established, the commission shall consider prima facie evidence relating to the involvement of individuals currently employed within law enforcement or intelligence agencies,' he said. He said where appropriate, the commission must make recommendations on the employment status of such officials, including whether they should be suspended pending the outcome of further investigations. 'The commission will have the power to refer matters for immediate criminal investigation and urgent decisions on prosecution, taking into account the nature of the allegations and evidence the commission will uncover. It is critical that these matters be attended to with the necessary urgency and thoroughness,' he said.
IOL News
22 minutes ago
- IOL News
Four suspects killed in shoot-out with police after Johannesburg robbery
Police at the scene in Riverlea, Johannesburg, after a deadly shootout that followed a business robbery in the CBD. Image: Supplied/SAPS Four suspects were killed in a shoot-out with police in Riverlea, south of Johannesburg, on Sunday, following a business robbery in the city's central business district, Gauteng police said. The crime intelligence-driven operation was conducted on Sunday, July 13. The operation was conducted by a multidisciplinary team, including members of the Gauteng Tactical Response Team, Anti-Gang Unit, Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations Tracking Team, Gauteng Traffic Police Air Wing, SAPS National Counterintelligence, CAP Specialised Operations, Bad Boyz Security and Tracker Connect. Gauteng police spokesperson Captain Tintswalo Sibeko said the operation followed a robbery at a shop in Johannesburg Central earlier on Sunday morning. 'When the members attempted to stop the suspects at Riverlea, the suspects opened fire, leading to a shoot-out,' Sibeko said. Three suspects were fatally shot during the exchange, and a fourth was declared dead by paramedics at the scene, despite not sustaining any visible injuries, Sibeko said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Two unlicensed firearms and items stolen during the robbery were recovered at the scene. Police said they are investigating charges of business robbery, attempted murder and possession of unlicensed firearms. National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the crime intelligence driven operation was led by the SAPS anti-kidnapping task team and took place on Thursday, at around 3.15pm. The operation followed the abduction of the businessman on May 29 in Lenasia. After his kidnapping, the family began receiving ransom demands of at least R15 million, Mathe said. 'The police pounced on a house in Randfontein this afternoon where a shoot-out ensued. 'Two suspects were fatally wounded in the house, while three suspects were arrested. The businessman was rescued and has been reunited with his family,' Mathe said. IOL News
Eyewitness News
26 minutes ago
- Eyewitness News
Ramaphosa puts Mchunu on leave of absence, inquiry to probe Mkhwanazi's allegations
CAPE TOWN - President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on a special leave of absence pending a commission of inquiry into allegations that he's embroiled in interference in the work of the South African Police Service (SAPS). Ramaphosa on Sunday evening also announced a commission of inquiry to be chaired by acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga to probe allegations by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi that Mchunu interfered with sensitive police investigations and colluded with business people, including murder accused, to disband the political killings task team in KZN. Ramaphosa said that he would make an interim appointment from his Cabinet to step into Mchunu's shoes until Wits law professor, Firoz Cachalia, retires from academia and can take over as minister in August. Cachalia is a former Gauteng safety and security MEC. The Constitution empowers the president to two appoint two people to his Cabinet from outside the National Assembly.
