Malema Accuses Mchunu of Shifting Story in Heated PKTT Inquiry Grilling
EFF leader Julius Malema subjected suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to a rigorous interrogation yesterday, questioning his decision to accept an affidavit from Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, an attempted murder accused and tenderpreneur currently incarcerated in a C-Max prison.
The grilling took place during Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee inquiry into allegations of political interference in the police, made by SAPS KwaZulu-Natal provincial commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
"There are all these allegations about Matlala, yet you still go and ask him for an affidavit. You are looking for an affidavit from an unethical man who is in prison," Malema stated, referring to Matlala, who is accused of orchestrating the attempted murder of his former lover.
Mchunu responded that the affidavit from Matlala denied any improper dealings with him, and that Mkhwanazi’s allegations should be investigated. He explained that he had expressed to his lawyers his desire for such an affidavit to distance himself from Matlala.
Mkhwanazi has accused Mchunu of interfering with police investigations, protecting criminal syndicates, and lying about his association with controversial figures such as Brown Mogotsi and Matlala.
"The lawyers then pursued my wish, calling Matlala’s lawyers and this is the result. I don’t think you should stretch this thing any further other than it is," an exasperated Mchunu said.
However, Malema challenged Mchunu, questioning how Matlala knew of his wishes when a letter from Matlala’s lawyers made no mention of such a request. "How does Matlala know the minister has wishes?" he asked.
Malema found it peculiar that "society had a problem with this chap" yet Mchunu sought to be associated with him. He further accused Mchunu of providing three different accounts of how his lawyers obtained the affidavit from Matlala, while the alleged crime kingpin was behind bars.
"You said your lawyers went without your instruction, then you said you had instructed them and then you say that Matlala wrote to your lawyers, uninvited," Malema pointed out. "Which answer should stand here … it’s becoming worse because you gave three answers."
Malema asserted that the country was troubled by Mchunu’s association with Matlala, stating, "Ministers have access to dangerous criminals even if they are behind bars in a maximum security prison."
In response, Mchunu reiterated that he did not want to be associated with Matlala.
Earlier in the hearing, Malema questioned Mchunu about his directive issued on December 31, 2024, instructing national police commissioner Fannie Masemola to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) and freeze vacancies in the Crime Intelligence Unit. Malema asked why this decision was made over the festive season and how it helped to resolve the problem of crime in the country.
Mchunu responded that while it was the festive season, the posts were to be discussed at their meeting at the beginning of the New Year. He said he had wanted them to begin the year with purpose on issues he had identified. "These matters were troubling a lot of people and the country as a whole."
However, Malema deemed his decision "very suspicious," adding, "It does not make any business sense."
Mchunu maintained that he knew his decision was to be conveyed at a meeting in the new year. "I wanted all of us to have it so that at the beginning of the year (we would be able to) say there is a directive. There is nothing untoward in a minister writing a directive on the 31st. It could have been something different altogether from this one."
He reiterated that he had wanted the police management to focus on the matters he had raised in the directives during the new year. "I was quite troubled by this (the PKTT) as I am right now," said the minister.
Separately, Mchunu apologised for previously claiming to have a recording showing that Mkhwanazi had threatened him. "I believe I made an honest mistake. I was under the impression that part of what I spoke about was actually there, part of it was not here."
He explained that he made a follow-up after making the undertaking and it became clear the recording had not started when the part (where Mkhwanazi allegedly threatened him) was discussed. "I made that mistake and I apologise," he said.
Last week Friday, Mchunu alleged that Mkhwanazi made threats in conversations with his chief of staff Cedrick Nkabinde, stating that if he went ahead to disband the PKTT there would be "fight back" on January 2 after he issued his letter of directives on 31 December 2024.
He had requested that the recording be played, but the part wherein Mkhwanazi allegedly makes the "fight back" threat could not be found. Mchunu was then asked to provide the recording when the inquiry resumed, but Ad Hoc Committee chairperson Soviet Lekganyane said that inquiries made with Mchunu’s legal team had not been positive. "We are to proceed today without that extract," he said in the morning.
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