Suspended police boss Senzo Mchunu says he 'barely knows' businessman Calvin Mathibeli

Suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, has distanced himself from businessman Calvin Mathibeli, who publicly slammed KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and police in the province, following a series of high-profile raids on his property.

Mathibeli, a Durban businessman and security mogul, took to social media to publicly accuse the police and Mkhwanazi, of systemic harassment, intimidation and unlawful conduct following a series of raids on his properties.

He claimed that he was warned in December 2025 that police officers had been instructed to kill him. He further alleged that shortly after, 'multiple units, including K9 and the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), allegedly surrounded his family residence with firearms pointed at the property, using a fraudulent warrant'.

He further alleged that police assaulted his security personnel and confiscated 14 licensed firearms without proper documentation, while his wife and sister were verbally abused and that officers attempted to pressure staff for information about his children’s school. 

Mathibeli, the CEO of the Calvin and Family Group, has filed a lawsuit in the Durban High Court against the police for alleged unlawful conduct and harassment. 

In his press conference last year that led to the establishment of the Madlanga Commission and Parliament's Ad Hoc Committee, Mkhwanazi alleged that Mchunu was “fully involved” with or influenced by criminal cartels, specifically a Gauteng-based drug syndicate, adding that he ordered the disbandment of this PKTT in December 2024 to protect politically connected individuals.

He claimed that 121 case dockets were moved to national headquarters and left untouched. Mchunu has consistently denied all allegations, calling them “baseless” and a breach of police protocol.

Following these public accusations, President Cyril Ramaphosa placed Mchunu on a leave of absence on 13 July 2025.

Since Mathibeli has made his claims against police, images have emerged showing him with Mchunu.

Mchunu, through his spokesperson Thabiso Mshengu, denied having a close relationship with Mathibeli. Mshengu said that Mchunu knows a number of people as he held various public positions in KZN and across the country. 

Mshengu added that although Mchunu knows Mathibeli, there is no relationship between the two. 

“He knows that there is a big man called Mathibeli in KZN. Mathibeli is not just a small fish; he is the biggest man who has service providers across the government and in the public sector. Therefore, his name would be known,” Mshengu said, emphasising that there is no particular relationship between the two. 

Mshengu said that Mchunu had no dealings with the allegations that Mathibeli made against the police and Mkhwanazi. 

“He saw the allegations on the news and has never seen a copy of that illegal and fraudulent warrant. And he has not commented because he has (nothing) to do with that,” he said.

Mshengu said that Mchunu had only met Mathibeli prior to becoming Minister of Police. 

KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda labelled Mathibeli's claims malicious, baseless and reckless. He added that these comments were a “miscalculated smear campaign” intended to damage the reputation of Mkhwanazi, who has threatened to take legal action against Mathibeli. 

Mathibeli did not respond to questions sent to him. 

Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia's spokesperson Kamo Mogotsi said while the Minister is aware of the allegations made by Mathibeli against Mkhwanazi, 'he believes that it is not appropriate that he should comment on unsubstantiated allegations made in public against a senior police officer'.

Meanwhile, the KZN police announced that they have begun investigating Mathibeli’s business dealings, including a Gauteng Department of Health tender. 

manyane.manyane@inl.co.za