Allegations against Mchunu: 'Political killings task team HAD to be disbanded, it was framing innocent people' - Mary de Haas
KZN Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi made bombshell claims at a press briefing, accusing Minister Mchunu of interfering in police operations.
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu (far right) is accompanied by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi to address the Soshanguve residents after the murder of at least six community patrollers. Picture: Sphamandla Dlamini/EWN
CapeTalk's John Maytham interviews Mary de Haas, experienced violence monitor in KwaZulu-Natal.
While corruption amongst senior government officials is nothing new, the latest damning allegations concerning Police Minister Senzo Mchunu have sent shock waves through the country.
In a press briefing on Sunday, KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi claimed Mchunu and Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya are among those working with a syndicate to cover up high-profile investigations in the province.
He said the criminal syndicate is linked to the drug trade', and with questionable business people involved in organised crime.
The ANC has said in response that Mkhwanazi's allegations must be investigated fully as they paint the country as 'lawless' and a 'banana republic'.
John Maytham gets input from Mary de Haas, an experienced violence monitor in KZN and currently an Honorary Research Fellow in the School of Law at UKZN.
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De Haas has strong feelings about the claim that the Political Killings Task Team was disbanded in December 2024 because it was getting close to the truth about politicians and others apparently linked to a criminal syndicate in Gauteng.
This team had to be disbanded she says, because in reality it was taking cases far beyond its mandate and framing innocent people to cover for politicians.
"This arose out of the Moerane Commission which was investigating political killings and attacks. The task team were dealing with matters that belong with the Hawks, like for example corruption in municipalities, and very selectively I may add."
Mary de Haas, Violence Monitor - KwaZulu-Natal
"But the main thing is they've ruined lives; they maliciously charged people and I've got case after case of this - I put this to the parliamentary committee last year."
Mary de Haas, Violence Monitor - KwaZulu-Natal
With allegations and counter-allegations flying back and forth, the one thing de Haas does agree with is the need for a full enquiry.
"These latest claims do come from a top source, but actually it seems that Mkhwanazi MAY have got his ministers muddled... that it's previous minister Bheki Cele and not Mchunu. There are allegations about Mkhwanazi too; syndicates are in his backyard..."
Mary de Haas, Violence Monitor - KwaZulu-Natal
"We need a unit like the Scorpions, but we need to find the people of integrity to staff it because organised crime has gone from strength to strength."
Mary de Haas, Violence Monitor - KwaZulu-Natal
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to de Haas' argument