Black Business Council urges swift action as Ramaphosa launches police corruption commission
Ramaphosa said he had decided to grant Mchunu special leave of absence
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The Black Business Council (BBC) has thrown its weight behind President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to establish a commission of inquiry into explosive allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
This decision comes after Mkhwanazi claimed that a powerful criminal syndicate involving police, politicians, prosecutors, and businesspeople had infiltrated law enforcement structures, and accused the Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, of interfering with investigations and disbanding a key task team probing political killings.
In a short address to the nation on Sunday, Ramaphosa said he had decided to grant Mchunu special leave of absence and announced that a judicial commission of inquiry would be chaired by Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga.
"This Commission is being established against the backdrop of significant progress in rebuilding and strengthening our country’s law enforcement agencies and security services.
"In recent years, the South African Police Service, the Special Investigating Unit, the Asset Forfeiture Unit and other bodies have been making important inroads in the fight against organised crime and corruption," Ramaphosa said.
The president said the inquiry would investigate allegations of criminal syndicates infiltrating the police, intelligence services, prosecution, and even the judiciary.
He also confirmed the appointment of Professor Firoz Cachalia as acting Minister of Police, pending the outcome of the inquiry. Cachalia, a legal academic and chairperson of the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council, will assume the role in August.
Cachalia, 66, is a former anti-apartheid activist, lawyer, academic, and experienced public servant. Born in Benoni in 1958, he became involved in student politics against apartheid in the late 1970s and 1980s.
"Professor Cachalia will be retiring from his current position at the University of Witwatersrand at the end of July".
The BCC urged the commission to act swiftly and avoid further erosion of public trust in law enforcement.
"South Africa is commission-fatigued, and as such the BBC urges the commission to act expeditiously and move with speed without eroding the confidence and integrity of the law enforcement agencies". CEO of BBC Kganki Matabane said
"We encourage all the individuals involved to come forward and provide the commission with all the necessary information and data urgently".
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