ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) member Senzo Mchunu is still in the dark on when he would be allowed to resume his political duties.
Image: Independent Newspapers Archives
Suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu says he is still awaiting the ANC national leadership's decision on when he will be allowed to resume his duties as a National Executive Committee (NEC) member after damaging claims were made against him by KZN Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
Mchunu had appeared before the Ad Hoc Committee and the Madlanga Commission to justify his decision to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) and respond to allegations of corruption, specifically regarding his ties to a tender tycoon and interference with police operations.
This was after KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi in July, accused Mchunu of instructing the disbandment of the PKTT on 31 December 2024 without consulting national police leadership, allegedly to protect politically connected individuals.
On Wednesday, Mchunu’s spokesperson Sithembiso Mshengu said Mchunu was still waiting to hear from the ANC on when he could resume his duties.
“We have not heard from the ANC so we are still waiting to hear from the ANC,”
Mchunu was placed on special leave following Mkhwanazi’s explosive revelations, which also included claims that he was working with a Gauteng drug cartel which had apparently influenced his decision to disband the PKTT. Mchunu also announced that he would be taking a back seat to ANC activities until the issue was resolved.
Mchunu appeared before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee and the Madlanga Commission and repeatedly denied having been influenced by a drug cartel or that his decision to disband the PKTT was done at the behest of criminal organisations or to protect politically connected individuals.
Mchunu believed that his testimony to Parliament and the Madlanga Commission had exonerated him and last month, in his first public appearance as an NEC member, he delivered a eulogy at the funeral of ANC member, Bhekabathethwa Mthethwa in Richards Bay.
A few days before delivering the eulogy, Mchunu had written to Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula's office notifying it about his return. When asked at the funeral about his return to active politics, Mchunu explained that his letter to the party was a matter of courtesy and not a request as he had voluntarily stepped aside from party activities.
However, he was quickly muted again by Luthuli House through a letter that was penned by Mbalula. In the letter, Mbalula argued that the fact that Mchunu's voluntary absence was approved by the national leadership meant that his return too needed to be approved by senior leaders.
According to the ANC, Mchunu still has to make representations to both the Integrity Commission and the national officials of the party, who would then make recommendations to the party’s NEC on whether Mchunu would be allowed to represent the party.
The party also expressed concerns that both the Madlanga Commission and Parliament's Ad Hoc Committees have not finished their work and have not cleared Mchunu.
The Madlanga Commission’s term has been extended to August, however, there is a suggestion that a further extension could be granted. This may mean that Mchunu will not be able to campaign for the ANC in the upcoming local government elections.
willem.phungula@inl.co.za