'Minister Senzo Mchunu is a pathological liar': MK Party DP Dr John Hlophe accuses Mchunu of perjury and misleading Parliament

MK Party’s Deputy President Dr. John Hlophe says Minister Senzo Mchunu is a “pathological liar” who has repeatedly misled Parliament and the country.

In an interview with Newzroom Afrika, Hlophe and MK Party Member of Parliament Visvin Reddy launched scathing attacks on Mchunu, accusing him of perjury, defeating the ends of justice, and being part of a broader network working to capture state institutions, including the police and the judiciary.

“Minister Senzo Mchunu is a pathological liar. He is known for lying,” said Hlophe. “He has lied in Parliament at least on two occasions in my presence.”

According to Hlophe, Mchunu once provided MPs with a fake hotline number and then left Parliament without apologising. He also accused the Minister of lying about DNA evidence in a child abuse case in the Eastern Cape. 

“He said the DNA of the headmaster of the school had in fact been obtained. We all know he was lying because subsequent investigations indicated clearly that the DNA sample had yet to be obtained.”

The allegations come amid explosive claims by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who accused senior officials of protecting criminals and drug syndicates. Hlophe insisted these claims should be the focus of national concern.

“What General Mkhwanazi informed us about should be a matter that we should all be focussing on and not allow ourselves to be distracted from anything else.”

Hlophe added that the party had laid formal criminal charges against Mchunu, including perjury and defeating the ends of justice. 

“David Skosana formally laid criminal charges against Minister Senzo Mchunu. Minister Senzo Mchunu is a pathological liar,'' said Hlophe. 

Mchunu has been accused of misleading Parliament earlier this year when he told the Portfolio Committee on Police that he did not know North West businessman Brown Mogotsi. 

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

Mchunu has now admitted, four months after his denial, that he does know Mogotsi, but only “as a comrade.” 

This comes after he told Parliament on March 5 that he doesn’t know Mogotsi.

“I don’t know this person,” Mchunu said at the time.

But in a statement issued on Wednesday, Mchunu admitted to having met Mogotsi. “He is just a comrade, not an associate. I’ve never requested or received anything from him,” he said.

Reddy linked Mchunu to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s 2017 CR17 campaign, suggesting both were involved in raising funds through questionable means. 

“Senzo Mchunu himself was a lobbyist for the CR17 campaign in KwaZulu-Natal, delegates of the ANC were actually bought and the money seemed to have come from drug syndicates.”

Reflecting on the July 2021 unrest, Hlophe described former President Jacob Zuma’s incarceration as unlawful and politically motivated. 

“There is no crime in law called contempt of a tribunal. The Constitutional Court effectively took away from President Zuma his right to appeal.”

The MK Party maintains that the country is facing a systemic crisis, where police, politicians, and even elements of the judiciary are being manipulated to serve hidden political agendas.

“It shows you that there is a covert team that’s working underground with a hidden agenda to use state apparatus to advance a political agenda,” Hlophe warned.

Despite questions about Mkhwanazi’s past relationship with Zuma, Hlophe declined to comment. 

“I’m not aware of the facts relating there too. I cannot comment with respect on something that I don’t know.”

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