South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu following explosive allegations of corruption and interference in criminal investigations, triggering a political storm and renewed scrutiny of the country’s law enforcement institutions.

The allegations were made by Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, KwaZulu-Natal’s Provincial Police Commissioner, who accused Mchunu and Deputy Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya of colluding with criminal syndicates and dismantling a task force investigating politically motivated killings.

In a televised address, Ramaphosa stated that Mchunu would be placed on immediate leave of absence to allow a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to operate without obstruction. “The allegations call for an urgent and comprehensive investigation,” he said, warning that failure to act could undermine public trust in the justice system.

The commission, chaired by Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, will investigate whether senior officials aided criminal activity, ignored intelligence warnings, or benefited politically or financially from syndicate operations.

Ramaphosa appointed Professor Firoz Cachalia, a law scholar and former Gauteng safety official, as acting Minister of Police, a move that drew mixed reactions. While some praised the appointment as a stabilizing measure, others questioned its legality and criticized the president for not removing Mchunu outright.

Opposition parties, including the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the Democratic Alliance (DA), slammed the decision as insufficient. “This so-called ‘special leave’ is a cowardly deflection,” said EFF spokesperson Sinawo Thambo, accusing Ramaphosa of shielding a compromised minister.

Mkhwanazi’s allegations include digital evidence such as WhatsApp messages and claims that over 100 case files were removed from the disbanded unit, effectively stalling investigations into high-profile killings.

Mchunu, a senior figure in the African National Congress (ANC), denied the accusations, calling them “baseless insinuations” and pledging full cooperation with the inquiry. Analysts say the scandal could derail his rumored bid for ANC leadership in 2027.

The controversy has reignited concerns over state capture, a term used to describe systemic corruption during the Zuma era. Civil society groups warn that criminal infiltration of law enforcement remains a threat to national stability.

The inquiry is expected to deliver a preliminary report within three months and a final report within six, with powers to summon witnesses and recommend prosecutions.

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