Questions raised over 'who knew about allegations against Senzo Mchunu'

THERE has been mixed reaction to the question of whether President Cyril Ramaphosa might have been aware for some time of the allegations of political interference against Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, made public on Sunday by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

- MASHUDU SADIKE

Mkhwanazi accused Mchunu of obstructing critical investigations by dismantling the Political Killings Task Team.

Mkhwanazi made the explosive claims during a press briefing claiming that Mchunu ordered the unilateral disbandment of the team and transferred 121 politically sensitive dockets to Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection, Shadrack Sibiya's office, where they have since been allegedly "neutralised".

He highlighted communications between Mchunu and a businessman as a crucial piece of evidence.

Despite Mchunu's parliamentary denial of knowing the businessman, Mkhwanazi asserts that a widely circulated social media phone recording contradicts this claim. This recording is considered one of the most damning pieces of evidence.

Both Mchunu and Sibiya have denied the allegations.