‘SAPS accusations will derail public confidence that was slowly being built up’ - Gareth Newham, Institute for Security Studies
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu denies allegations levelled against him by the KZN Police Commissioner. Bongani Bingwa speaks with forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan and Gareth Newham of the ISS.
KZN Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Picture: Xanderleigh Dookey Makhaza/EWN
702’s Bongani Bingwa speaks with forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan and Gareth Newham, Head of Justice and Violence Prevention at the Institute for Security Studies.
Listen below:
KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has opened a criminal investigation into Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.
He is accusing the minister of working with criminal syndicates and corrupt politicians to quash investigations into political killings in KZN.
He also levelled accusations against the Deputy National Commissioner on Crime Detection, Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya, in an explosive press conference.
Mchunu denies the allegations, while Sibiya called the briefing ‘embarrassing’ and said he would not make a public statement to defend his innocence.
Newham says it was extremely disappointing to see this briefing, as Mchunu seemed to be committed to improving the police service.
“This is something that derails a lot of public confidence that was slowly being built up.”
- Gareth Newham, Justice and Violence Prevention - Institute for Security Studies
O’Sullivan believes there is much more to the situation than what Mkhwanazi shared in the press conference.
“It is what Mkhwanazi did not say at that media briefing which is more important.”
- Paul O’Sullivan, forensic investigator
He says that Mkhwanazi and General Fannie Masemola had both been embroiled in a scandal a few years ago, when they brought back undeclared, expensive goods.
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