President Cyril Ramaphosa says implementing any punitive measures against police minister Senzo Mchunu regarding his alleged links to criminal networks would be unfair and would create a dangerous precedent.
These “untested allegations” based on revelations by KwaZulu- Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi would be probed by the yet-to be established commission of inquiry into the matter.
“These allegations are serious. They are also untested. It is therefore necessary that we establish the facts through an independent, credible commission of inquiry ... as well as safeguard public confidence in the police service,” Ramaphosa said during a parliamentary debate on the presidency budget on Wednesday.
Ramaphosa has defended the establishment of an independent inquiry, citing past commissions’ successes, such as the SA Revenue Service overhaul and the Public Investment Corporation’s governance reforms. The state has recovered R11bn from state capture assets, with R10.6bn frozen.
“In the three years since the final report of the state capture commission was presented to the president, the government has undertaken major reforms based on the recommendations. Eight new laws have been enacted to strengthen our anticorruption institutions, enhance procurement system, reform the intelligence services, as well as to improve corporate accountability and public administration, the value of assets that were linked to state capture that have been recovered by this state now stand at R11bn by March of this year,” the president said.
Both the MK and EFF have raised concerns regarding the placing of Mchunu on special leave and the looming appointment of Firoz Cachalia as acting police minister while the commission conducts its work. The parties have sent separate legal correspondence to the president seeking clarity on the reasons behind the move by Ramaphosa to not fire Mchunu and to appoint Cachalia in his place, which is not provided for in the constitution.
On Tuesday night, the presidency announced that mineral resources minister Gwede Mantashe will hold the fort in the police ministry until Cachalia can step into the position from next month.
“It is inconceivable that the constitution was designed to permit the appointment of cabinet ministers who do not discharge the power or perform the function of a cabinet minister but retain the full pecuniary and potentially political benefits thereof,” the EFF letter reads.
The MK party seeks a full reversal of the Cachalia appointment, threatening legal action should Ramaphosa fail.
“Should Ramaphosa fail to heed this call, the MK party will pursue a range of lawful and peaceful actions, including constitutional litigation, a motion of no confidence in parliament and rolling mass action nationwide,” the party said.
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