Mchunu back in the hot seat amid Parliament probe
Suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu is set to resume testimony in Parliament on Wednesday. Members of Parliament are continuing to probe his testimony on his decision to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).
Mchunu, placed on special leave, will appear before the Ad Hoc Committee probing claims of alleged interference in the justice system.
The committee, chaired by ANC MP Soviet Lekganyane, was set up to investigate allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
Mkhwanazi alleged on July 6 that a sophisticated crime syndicate involving Mchunu and some of the top police officials was systematically infiltrating operations within the country’s law enforcement and intelligence structures.
Under scrutiny, Mchunu conceded on Tuesday that, contrary to earlier statements, he does not have an audio recording of alleged threats from Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
Earlier, he claimed he ordered his chief of staff, Cedrick Nkabinde, to record all conversations with Mkhwanazi because of threatening remarks after he disbanded the PKTT.
In addition, despite producing an affidavit obtained from Matlala—an alleged criminal linked to assassination networks—Mchunu vehemently denied any personal association with Matlala.
When questioned why he would seek a statement from someone he had never met and was implicated in a crime, Mchunu replied, “I don’t know Matlala.
“My lawyers obtained the affidavit without direct contact as part of my defense against allegations linking me to criminal syndicates.”
He added, “I wanted clarification to address claims about my lifestyle and supposed connections with Matlala. But I have no evidence linking me to them.”
thabo.makwakwa@inl.co.za
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