JOHANNESBURG – The political future of suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu remains shrouded in uncertainty as he continues to wait for a definitive signal from the African National Congress (ANC) national leadership regarding his return to active duty. Despite Mchunu’s belief that his testimony before Parliament and the Madlanga Commission has exonerated him of corruption allegations, Luthuli House appears unmoved, keeping the veteran politician in a state of professional and political "special leave."
The saga, which has gripped the National Executive Committee (NEC) for months, reached a new impasse this week. Mchunu’s spokesperson, Sithembiso Mshengu, confirmed on Wednesday that the former minister is still awaiting a response from the party’s top brass. “We have not heard from the ANC so we are still waiting to hear from the ANC,” Mshengu stated, underscoring the silence that has met Mchunu’s recent attempts to resume his responsibilities.
The roots of Mchunu’s downfall trace back to July last year, when KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi delivered explosive testimony that sent shockwaves through the security cluster. Mkhwanazi accused Mchunu of bypassing national police leadership to unilaterally instruct the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) on 31 December 2024. The Commissioner alleged that the move was calculated to protect politically connected individuals who were being circled by investigators.
Even more damaging were Mkhwanazi’s claims that Mchunu had been influenced by a Gauteng-based drug cartel. These allegations, though repeatedly and vehemently denied by Mchunu, led to him being placed on special leave and prompted his voluntary withdrawal from NEC activities to "protect the integrity of the organization."
However, the "voluntary" nature of his absence has become a point of contention. Last month, Mchunu made his first public appearance as an NEC member since his suspension, delivering a eulogy at the funeral of ANC member Bhekabathethwa Mthethwa in Richards Bay. The appearance was seen by many as a soft launch of his political comeback. Mchunu had even written to Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula’s office prior to the event, notifying the party of his intention to return.
At the funeral, Mchunu downplayed the need for formal permission, describing his letter as a "matter of courtesy" rather than a request. His logic was simple: since he had voluntarily stepped aside, he could voluntarily return.
Luthuli House disagreed. In a sharply worded letter, Fikile Mbalula "muted" Mchunu once again, arguing that because the national leadership had approved his initial absence, they must also approve his return. The Secretary-General’s stance is that Mchunu cannot simply declare himself "cleared" while the bodies tasked with investigating him have yet to release their final findings.
The ANC’s internal processes have added another layer of complexity. According to party sources, Mchunu still needs to make formal representations to the Integrity Commission and the national officials (the Top Seven). Only after these bodies make a recommendation to the NEC will a final decision be reached on whether he can represent the party in any official capacity.
The timing could not be worse for Mchunu. The Madlanga Commission, which is investigating the broader context of systemic failures and political meddling in the police service, has seen its term extended to August 2026. There are already whispers in legal circles that a further extension may be necessary to process the mountain of evidence and conflicting testimonies.
For Mchunu, a further delay could be a political death knell. With the 2026 Local Government Elections on the horizon, the prospect of being barred from campaigning is a significant blow. The party has expressed explicit concerns that neither the Madlanga Commission nor Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee have officially finished their work or cleared the minister of the "drug cartel" and "tender tycoon" allegations.
During his appearances before these committees, Mchunu was grilled over his ties to a prominent tender mogul and his reasons for dismantling the PKTT without consulting National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola. Mchunu argued that the unit’s focus was too narrow and that the decision had been approved by the President, but Mkhwanazi’s counter-testimony—that the disbandment left dozens of high-profile murder cases in jeopardy—continues to haunt the proceedings.
“I have never been influenced by a drug cartel, nor was my decision to restructure the task team done to protect anyone,” Mchunu told the Madlanga Commission in December. “The goal was to integrate these specialized functions into the broader detective service to ensure sustainability.”
Despite these defenses, the shadow of the PKTT disbandment remains long. As the Commission’s investigators continue their work behind closed doors, Senzo Mchunu finds himself a man without a portfolio, caught between his desire to return to the political frontline and a party leadership that is in no hurry to welcome him back.
For now, the "Fixer" of the police service is himself in need of a fix. Whether he can navigate the labyrinth of ANC internal politics and the rigorous scrutiny of the Madlanga Commission remains the most significant question in the North West and KwaZulu-Natal political corridors. The letter from Luthuli House remains the final word: until the senior leaders are satisfied, the Minister remains on the sidelines, watching as the party prepares for a critical election without him.
