Suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy
The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal says the corruption allegations by provincial police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi against Police Minister Senzo Mchunu have cast doubt on the calibre of leaders from the province.
Party sources say the province now has to work even harder to redeem itself after the losses suffered in the May 2024 general elections.
Former ANC president Jacob Zuma, former health minister Zweli Mkhize — who opposed president Cyril Ramaphosa at the 2022 ANC elective conference — and now Mchunu, who was touted as the province’s next presidential candidate, have faced corruption allegations.
“The recent conduct of certain ministers from KwaZulu‑Natal has unfortunately cast a shadow over the calibre of leadership our province has produced,” a senior KwaZulu-Natal ANC leader told the Mail & Guardian.
In a media briefing two weeks ago, Mkhwanazi said a high‑profile task team set up to investigate political killings in the province had been disbanded because it was closing in on politicians and others linked to a criminal syndicate in Gauteng.
Mkhwanazi said Mchunu had ordered the dissolution of the team — formed in 2018 to investigate politically motivated murders in KwaZulu‑Natal but later used in other provinces — because it had uncovered links between drug cartels, politicians, police and prosecutors.
He also accused senior police leaders of corruption and obstruction.
Meanwhile, Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane, who also comes from the province, is under fire over her role in appointing members of Sector Education and Training Authorities (Seta) boards, which manage billions in public skills funding.
The Democratic Alliance (DA)wants Nkabane fired, accusing her of misleading parliament and violating the executive ethics code by fabricating the legitimacy of the selection process.
In May, Nkabane submitted a list of panel members to parliament in response to mounting pressure to explain how the Seta boards were constituted. The list was presented as evidence that an independent and credible process had been followed. But the individuals named as part of that panel have said they never consented to serve on, or participated in, the panel.
“As someone from KZN who remains deeply invested in the integrity and reputation of our leaders, I must express concern over the perception that such actions reflect poorly on the broader collective,” the ANC KwaZulu-Natal source said.
“It is important to emphasise that KwaZulu‑Natal has produced leaders of exceptional quality who have contributed meaningfully to the democratic project and the advancement of our country.”
But, when individuals in high office are said to have failed to meet ethical and professional standards, it undermines public confidence not only in those individuals but also in the institutions they represent and the region they come from, the source added.
Mchunu has been viewed as a Ramaphosa ally, who helped him garner votes during his 2022 presidential bid. Some in the party have accused Ramaphosa of walking on eggshells regarding the allegations against the suspended police minister, saying the president has not fired him for fear of a potential backlash in KwaZulu‑Natal.
This claim was dismissed by ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula, who told a media briefing this week that all ANC members are allies of the party and of Ramaphosa and it was wrong to suggest that being an ally means the president should ignore someone’s misconduct.
“The president has taken an oath, so to suggest he can’t act would mean he’s broken that oath,” Mbalula said.
He added that if Ramaphosa were swayed by political loyalties, he would not have commissioned a judicial inquiry into Mkhwanazi’s allegations.
Ramaphosa put Mchunu on a leave of absence after the allegations, and announced the establishment of a judicial commission of inquiry, to be chaired by the acting deputy chief justice, Mbuyiseli Madlanga.
The inquiry will investigate what Ramaphosa described as “the infiltration of law enforcement, intelligence and associated institutions within the criminal justice system by criminal syndicates”.
It will assess the roles of current and former senior officials across a range of institutions, including the South African Police Service, the National Prosecuting Authority, the State Security Agency, the judiciary and the metropolitan police departments of Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni and Tshwane.
The commission will also examine whether members of the national executive responsible for the criminal justice system aided or abetted criminal activity.
Another KwaZulu‑Natal source said the ANC must resist the temptation to generalise or reduce the province’s contributions based on the actions of a few. At the same time, the issue must be confronted with honesty and urgency, they conceded.
“Accountability is not optional. Those entrusted with leadership must act in a manner that uplifts the image of our province and restores the faith of South Africans in the quality of leadership we offer,” they said.
Earlier this year, the ANC dissolved its leadership in the province over its dismal electoral performance last year, and established a six-member task team with Jeff Radebe as the provincial convenor.
The party’s support in KwaZulu-Natal plummeted from 54.22% in 2019 to 17% in 2024, reducing its legislature seats from 44 to 14.
Mchunu’s presidential ambitions now appear over, with Mbalula and ANC deputy president Paul Mashatile seemingly poised to vie for Ramaphosa’s position in 2027.
A national executive committee source said Mchunu’s fate depends on the investigation, adding that if the allegations are validated, this would effectively dash his presidential hopes.
The source said many ANC leaders have chosen to stay out of the succession race for now.
“We still don’t know yet, to be honest, and we’ve also decided to stay away from the succession topic because it will divide the party. We will have to see when the time comes and choose the most competent individual,” they said.
The M&G contacted Radebe for comment, but he did not respond.
Assessing Mbalula’s chances to become ANC president, a national executive committee source commented: “He is still young [54], but he is doing a great job currently as the party’s secretary general. He still needs to grow in administration.”
Regarding Mashatile, the source said: “He still has to appear before the integrity commission, so we can’t risk him when our popularity has gone down and people want a clean government.
“If we can’t have credible people, trusted in society and untainted, we won’t even win the local government elections.”