After laying criminal charge against Mchunu, DA to also submit formal complaint to Parly ethics committee
This after the DA laid criminal charges against Mchunu on Thursday.
FILE: Police Minister Senzo Mchunu. Picture: SAPS/X
CAPE TOWN - The Democratic Alliance (DA) says it will simultaneously submit a formal ethics complaint against Police Minister Senzo Mchunu after laying criminal charges with the police on Thursday.
The party’s deputy chief whip, Bax Nodada, said that Parliament’s joint committee on ethics and members’ interests will be approached following Minister Mchunu’s contradictory statements about his relationship with politically connected businessman, Brown Mogotsi.
Mogotsi was named by KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi as an individual reportedly linked to serious criminal syndicates and political interference in the police service.
In March this year, Mchunu denied knowing Mogotsi, but in a public statement on Wednesday, he admitted that he does in fact know him, calling him a "comrade".
Nodada said this reversal directly contradicted his earlier denial and raised grave concerns about whether he deliberately misled Parliament.
He said this was a criminal act in terms of the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act.
"This is a criminal offence under both common law and parliamentary legislation. Today, the DA laid a charge of fraud against Minister Mchunu at the Cape Town Central police station. Simultaneously, we will submit a formal complaint to parliament’s joint committee on ethics and members’ interests."
Nodada said that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s "continued inaction" also raised alarming questions about his willingness to confront corruption and protect the credibility of his government.
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