In the intricate web of South Africa's political landscape, a storm is brewing within the South African Police Service (SAPS), threatening to expose a deep-seated rot at the highest levels. The central figure in this unfolding drama is President Cyril Ramaphosa, who now faces mounting pressure to take decisive action against Police Minister Senzo Mchunu following explosive allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi on 6 July 2025.
The core of the issue stems from accusations that Mchunu has been interfering in high-profile criminal investigations to shield individuals with connections to criminal syndicates and senior police officials. These allegations, if proven true, paint a disturbing picture of corruption and political maneuvering within the very institutions tasked with upholding the law.
One of the most serious accusations leveled against Mchunu is that he allegedly ordered the disbandment of a task team investigating political killings and organized crime in KZN. This task team, established in 2018, was specifically designed to tackle the pervasive issue of political assassinations that have plagued the province for years. Mkhwanazi claims that Mchunu's directive to shut down the task team came in December 2024, allegedly under pressure from his associates, including businessman Vuzimusi “Cat” Matlala and Brown Mogotsi.
The allegations against Matlala are particularly concerning. Mkhwanazi stated that Matlala was awarded a R360 million police contract in 2024, and further investigations revealed that he was financially supporting Mchunu’s political activities, along with Mogotsi. This raises serious questions about potential conflicts of interest and the misuse of public funds for political gain.
Furthermore, Mkhwanazi alleges a deliberate effort to stall investigations into the murders of prominent entertainment figures, claiming that senior police officials tied to drug cartels were protecting criminal networks. This accusation suggests a disturbing level of complicity between law enforcement and organized crime, potentially allowing criminals to operate with impunity.
The implications of these allegations are far-reaching. Crime expert Calvin Rafadi has warned that the credibility of SAPS is on the line and that restoring public trust requires decisive action from the Presidency. He has called on President Ramaphosa to fire Mchunu and establish an independent investigation to demonstrate his commitment to cleaning up law enforcement.
Meanwhile, in a media briefing on Wednesday morning, National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola revealed that KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has been receiving death threats and his security has been beefed up. Masemola addressed journalists virtually from a facility in Vanderbijlpark, in Gauteng province, where he said that the security system around the hero provincial commissioner has been upgraded to protect his dear life.
Asked if he is to take any action against Mkhwanazi, the national police commissioner said he was awaiting President Cyril Ramaphosa's intervention. However, Masemola made it clear that he would not be persecuting Mkhwanazi.
He said: "In terms of physical protection, he has been getting threats to his life in that province. We have beefed up his security but he won't be persecuted from my side, surely there will be no persecution of any member of the South African Police Service".
Presidential spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said President Cyril Ramaphosa has noted statements made by KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
According to Magwenya, Ramaphosa said: "This is a matter of grave national security concern that is receiving the highest priority attention. It is vital that the integrity of the country’s security services is safeguarded and that the rule of law is affirmed.”
“All parties to this matter are called upon to exercise discipline and restraint. The trading of accusations and counter-accusations threatens to undermine public confidence and sow confusion. Furthermore, these actions damage the unity and focus of the police.”
Meanwhile, political analyst Goodenough Mashego suggests that Ramaphosa may be hesitant to fire Mchunu due to his political influence in KZN, where he played a key role in securing votes for the African National Congress (ANC). However, Mashego also argues that Ramaphosa's credibility is at stake, particularly after failing to act decisively in past high-profile cases involving other ministers.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that Mkhwanazi's accusations have exposed a dangerous web of infighting, sabotage, and political power struggles at the highest levels of the police service. Rafadi believes that the unfolding scandal is rooted in factional battles over top leadership positions, including the post of head of the Hawks and even that of national police commissioner.
Adding fuel to the fire is the alleged tension between former police minister Bheki Cele and Mchunu, which has created an unstable and politically charged environment within SAPS. Rafadi claims that Cele has been on the ground protecting the president at all costs, referencing controversial matters such as Phala Phala and vote-rigging allegations.
After he lost the ANC provincial chairmanship to Sihle Zikalala in December 2015, the newly elected leadership removed him unceremoniously as premier for “non-performance” and deployed him to the National Assembly.
His relationship with the provincial leadership soured, but President Cyril Ramaphosa boosted his political fortunes by appointing him to various critical Cabinet posts, including the latest as police minister. It was a just reward for his steadfast alignment with the President’s slates during fiercely contested ANC elections in 2017 and 2022 against a strong anti-Ramaphosa push in KwaZulu-Natal.
In response to the allegations, Mchunu has dismissed them as "wild allegations and claims." However, the gravity of the accusations and the potential damage to the credibility of SAPS cannot be ignored.
If Mkhwanazi’s allegations are true, it is Mchunu's ambition to become South Africa's president that could have led Mchunu into the embrace of those willing to sponsor a journey to the top through means legitimate and moral, or illegal and deadly, if indeed drug lords are funding his quest for power.
As ANC provincial secretary and chairman, as well as a member of the executive council and premier, Mchunu was highly regarded even by the opposition as a scrupulous individual – certainly not one to link with cartels involved in political killings.
Like Mchunu, Cele is a senior leader from the province and has served in the national executive committee for many years. News24 has reported that while Mkhwanazi has identified Matlala as key to the alleged criminal cartel buying influence with Mchunu and other top police officers, Cele is also caught in the web.
Mkhwanazi has effectively alleged that there is a high-level criminal syndicate operating in South Africa that extends into SAPS, the Police Ministry, Parliament, official prison structures, the judiciary, and other law-enforcing authorities. He also referred to alleged dodginess linked to the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) corruption-busting team and inferred that the country’s critical Crime Intelligence unit may have been intentionally imploded.
These allegations have raised concerns about the potential for state corruption, cover-ups, and dirty tricks, reminiscent of the State Capture era under former President Jacob Zuma. While Mkhwanazi's claims have not been tested in court or officially corroborated, they echo previous suspicions and scandals that have plagued the country.
One of the most troubling aspects of Mkhwanazi's allegations is the alleged involvement of police officers in international drug trafficking. He claims that a drug cartel operating in Gauteng is importing drugs from South America, often entering South Africa via the Port of Durban in KZN. These drugs are then smuggled from KZN to Gauteng to be processed and distributed throughout the country and other countries.
Mkhwanazi's claims are supported by a 2021 R200-million cocaine crackdown in JOHANNESBURG, which revealed that cocaine from Brazil was being transported from KZN to Gauteng. The investigation also led to the arrests of police officers, further highlighting the potential for corruption within law enforcement.
The scandal has also implicated Major General Feroz Khan, the head of counter-intelligence and security at Crime Intelligence, and his boss, Dumisani Khumalo, who headed Crime Intelligence nationally. Khan had been accused of defeating the ends of justice and bringing SAPS into disrepute concerning his presence at the 2021 interception.
Khumalo was arrested late last month, along with six colleagues, in connection with an allegedly irregular appointment. Mkhwanazi alleges that in the run-up to Khumalo’s detention, members of Crime Intelligence released classified documents and handed them over to a member of Parliament. These documents allegedly related to issues including vetting as well as covert properties.
Mkhwanazi claims that the MP subsequently registered a criminal case in Gauteng and that Police Minister Mchunu was allegedly approached and asked "to take these dockets and assign them to someone else." He further alleges that Mchunu's chief of staff wrote to the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (Idac), asking that the cases of Crime Intelligence vetting process manipulation be investigated.
The Idac did indeed arrest Khumalo and his six colleagues. Mkhwanazi claims that the Idac "investigating officer" apparently overseeing the case was a retired policeman – a former member of Crime Intelligence who was not qualified for the Idac role and had "no investigative experience at all."
Mkhwanazi's allegations have raised serious questions about the integrity of Crime Intelligence and the potential for manipulation within the unit. He claims that the vetting section within Crime Intelligence has more powers than any other units within that space because they can scrutinize everything about an applicant who is applying for security clearance, and they can manipulate that security clearance process for their own benefit.
He also alleges that on 31 December 2024, Police Minister Mchunu had issued a letter suspending the filling of Crime Intelligence vacancies, resulting in KZN having no provincial Crime Intelligence head. This, according to Mkhwanazi, has left the province vulnerable to criminal syndicates.
The unfolding scandal has drawn criticism from various figures, including forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan, who has disputed some of Mkhwanazi's allegations and criticized his appearance during the press briefing, suggesting that it looked "like he's threatening a coup."
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