‘Silent’ Ramaphosa back in the country as parties lay criminal charges against Senzo Mchunu

It’s been two days since President Cyril Ramaphosa returned from the BRICS Leaders’ Summit in Rio de Janeiro, yet his silence on the explosive allegations by KZN police boss Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi against Police Minister Senzo Mchunu remains deeply concerning, critics have said.

The DA says Ramaphosa’s continued silence is a failure of leadership.

”The President has not said anything since landing back in South Africa on Tuesday and has not taken any action,” said DA deputy chief whip Baxolile Nodada.

“The president cannot be quiet when there’s a massive crisis like this. Like I ask, he landed on Tuesday, everybody is asking where is the President? Why is he saying nothing? Why is he not acting on people that are defrauding and lying to parliament.

“He needs to act with the vigour that he intended to act in fighting corruption to male sure that our state owned entities and ultimately the departments actually live up to the standards that they are meant to live up on. He can't be silent, he was silent on Nkabanae and did nothing.”

Nodada made the remarks outside the Cape Town Central Police Station, on Thursday morning, where the party laid criminal charges against Mchunu, accusing him of misleading Parliament and interfering in police operations.

Nodada said Ramaphosa’s failure to act is deeply concerning.

“Minister Mchunu came to Parliament in March this year and was asked whether he knew Mr. Brown Mogotsi,” Nodada said. 

“He said he didn’t. But in July, he returned and said Mogotsi is his comrade and associate.”

Nodada accused Mchunu of lying to Parliament, a violation of Section 27 of the Powers and Privileges Act, and said this amounts to fraud.

“As the DA, we won’t sit idly by while ministers lie to Parliament - an essential accountability mechanism for the public,” Nodada said. 

“We laid charges against the Minister of Higher Education and Training nine days ago, and the Hawks are now investigating. The same should apply here.”

Mogotsi has been implicated in alleged political interference in police operations by Mkhwanazi. 

Mchunu initially denied knowing him during a March 5 committee hearing, saying he had only seen a photo of the man and didn’t recognize him.

However, in a statement issued Wednesday, Mchunu said he had met Mogotsi but downplayed the relationship.

“Whilst the minister knows and has met Mogotsi, he is just a comrade and not an associate,” the statement read. 

“The minister has never requested or received anything from him.”

Mkhwanazi, however, alleged Mchunu and other senior police leaders are linked to a criminal syndicate tied to drug cartels and politically connected individuals. 

He accused Mchunu of collusion and shielding key figures from prosecution.

The controversy also involves murder-accused businessman Vusimuzi Matlala. 

Mkhwanazi claims Mchunu and Deputy National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya colluded with Matlala to obstruct justice.

Mchunu’s office denied any connection to Matlala.

“The minister has never met Matlala, never spoken to him, and never received anything from him,” the statement said. 

“However, the minister did initiate a review of the SAPS tender awarded to him, which has since been terminated.”

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola described the current situation as “unprecedented” and said the police leadership is prepared to brief Ramaphosa

“We acknowledge fully the commitment made by His Excellency, the president, who said he would attend to this matter upon his return,” Masemola said.

The uMkhonto weSizwe Party has also laid charges against Mchunu and Sibiya at the Brooklyn Police Station. 

The party alleges obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and criminal conspiracy.

MK Party said charges against Sibiya include tampering with evidence, dereliction of duty, breaching multiple sections of the SAPS Act, and potentially forging or falsifying official documents.

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