President Cyril Ramaphosa says he is in no rush to address testimonies from the commission of inquiry into criminality, political interference and corruption in the justice system mentioning him and will wait for the conclusion of investigations.
Suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu told a parliamentary committee probing allegations of criminal syndicates infiltration in the security cluster that he briefed Ramaphosa about the disbandment of the KwaZulu-Natal political killings task team, and he had “agreed with the briefing”.
The disbandment of the team has been central to KwaZulu-Natal provincial commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s allegation of political interference in SA Police Service (SAPS) operations to “protect cartels”.
The claim about Ramaphosa approving the disbandment was initially raised by national police commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola at the Madlanga commission.
Ramaphosa, speaking to journalists during his visit to struggle veteran Tlou Theophilus Cholo’s 100th birthday celebrations in Soshanguve on Monday, said he would wait for the Madlanga commission to conclude its work before commenting.
“I appointed the Madlanga commission to investigate allegations that have been made against Minister Mchunu. A lot has been said, and a lot will continue being said. As the person who appointed the commission, I will await the moment when the proceedings end and when a report is tabled to me before I comment,” he said.
“I cannot run a contemporaneous commentary about the proceedings that are taking place. I will wait until all the matters are properly ventilated, and thereafter, we will be able to comment. Let’s wait for that moment.”
Ramaphosa said not commenting during the proceedings was due to respect for the commission’s work, chaired by retired Constitutional Court judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga; his co-panellists are advocates Sesi Baloyi and Sandile Khumalo.
“It is only correct that we should wait until they have proceeded further with the work they are doing.”
He said the commission’s work was key to the repositioning of the SAPS.
“Whatever might be wrong done by anyone should be brought to the surface, and there should be transparency to correct whatever is happening,” he said.
“What is happening should not alarm us. It is a difficult moment for us as South Africans, but it is necessary.”
Last week, the Madlanga commission heard attempted murder accused Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala sent a document to the KwaZulu-Natal directorate for priority crime investigation (Hawks) provincial head Maj-Gen Lesetja Senona, with multiple identity numbers for the president.
The document, appearing to be from Bizz Tracers, a forensic investigation company owned by Calvin Rafadi, included recommendations for the destruction of company records at the SA Revenue Service (Sars) and courts of “computer mainframe files encapsulating the above sensitive information” and to “close the bank account linked to the identity documents which are in question”, except for one ID.
The president was not directly linked to the testimony but mentioned him.
The commission and parliament hearings continue on Tuesday.
