ANC dismisses suggestions it's treating Mchunu differently from other corruption-accused members

CAPE TOWN - The African National Congress (ANC) has dismissed suggestions that it’s treating suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu differently from other corruption-accused national executive committee (NEC) members by not asking him to step aside from political activity.

The party’s secretary general, Fikile Mbalula, said that unless charged and arrested, Mchunu’s party-political position remains unaffected.

Mchunu was among the party’s executive members participating in a national working committee meeting in Cape Town over the weekend to assess the status of the party in the province.  

Mbalula said President Cyril Ramaphosa has taken the right course of action by establishing a commission of inquiry to investigate the corruption claims bedevilling the police service, and swirling around Mchunu, who has since been placed on special leave.

Mbalula said the party welcomes the opportunity for Mchunu to present his side of the story after KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi accused him of colluding with a criminal network and of political interference in the work of the police.

“You don’t arrest people without evidence. This is not a banana republic. Things must be processed. There are no shortcuts to this.”

In response to the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party rallying the country’s support behind Mkhwanazi, Mbalula had this to say, “The same Jacob Zuma who’s marching today, established a commission for [former general] Bheki Cele. He was removed as a commissioner of police precisely because of allegations that were made.”

Mbalula said the ANC is not selectively implementing its step-aside rule in the Mchunu matter.