Scandal-hit Senzo Mchunu still eyes ANC presidency

SUSPENDED police minister Senzo Mchunu, whose ambition for the ANC presidency was revealed by his counterpart Bheki Cele this week at the parliament's Ad Hoc Committee, could still vy for the top position.

- BONGANI HANS

This was despite the scandal surrounding Mchunu, who has been accused by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi of associating himself with criminal syndicates.

Mkhwanazi was referring to Mchunu's alleged relationships with Brown Mogotsi and Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala, who are subjects of criminal investigations.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has since forced Mchunu into special leave pending the outcome of the Ad Hoc Committee and the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, probing the circumstances surrounding the disbandment of the police's Political Killing Task Team (PKTT).

Testifying at the Ad Hoc Committee, Cele revealed a damning proximity between Mchunu and Matlala, which involved discussing presidential ambition.

Cele said last week Wednesday that when he met Matlala for the first time at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Durban during December last year, Matlala revealed his plan to fund Mchunu's campaign to become president or deputy president.

Whoever will be elected ANC president or deputy in 2027 would emerge as state president or deputy president if the ANC wins the 2029 general elections.

Cele said Matlala had requested to meet him to discuss his harassment by the police, who had raided his house on December 6.

This was three weeks after Matlala had received a R360 million contract from SAPS.

He stated that this occurred after Matlala and Mogotsi had met with Mchunu.

"He (Matlala) said he had money on the tender to fund his (Mchunu) project of becoming either the president or the deputy president.