The African National Congress (ANC) has praised President Cyril Ramaphosa for what it calls a courageous and responsible decision to place Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on a leave of absence, following explosive allegations of high-level corruption and interference within the police service.
The move comes after KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi alleged that senior police officials, including Mchunu, had ties to criminal syndicates and had interfered in police operations.
ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri says the party welcomes the decision and trusts that it will pave the way for a transparent investigation.
“We are confident this process will help us determine whether South Africans are truly safe and whether the institutions tasked with law enforcement are operating with integrity,” she said. “This is not a one-off gesture—it’s a necessary step toward restoring public trust and accountability.”
However, the decision has been met with criticism from the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), which accuses Ramaphosa of ignoring key elements of the allegations.
MKP spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela pointed out that Mkhwanazi also implicated elements of the judiciary in the alleged infiltration of law enforcement by criminal syndicates. He criticised the president's plan to involve the judiciary in the formation of a commission of inquiry.
“This is a clear sign of constitutional and political delinquency,” said Ndhlela. “The Political Killings Task Team, which was disbanded under Mchunu, had shown results—over 600 dockets and more than 400 arrests. Disbanding such a team raises serious questions.”
The presidency has yet to confirm the structure and timeline of the planned inquiry. The ANC maintains that accountability and integrity must remain the cornerstone of the nation’s law enforcement system.