IFP pledges full support for inquiry probing allegations of police interference

JOHANNESBURG - The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP)'s national executive committee (NEC) has pledged its full support for the commission of inquiry to probe allegations of political interference in the police services and other law enforcement.

Two weeks ago, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi implicated Police Minister Senzo Mchunu in these explosive allegations.

Mkhwanazi said there were also attempts to disband the political task team, which probes politically related cases.

Mkhwanazi also implicated his own colleague, crime detection commissioner, Shadrack Sibiya.

Party president Velenkosini Hlabisa briefed the media following the party’s NEC on Monday.

"The allegations made by Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi go to the heart of the matter of a serious concern to the IFP, this being political violence."

He added that the commission of inquiry may reveal closure for families of the victims of political killings.  

"We are seated here with a long list of unsolved cases of murders of political office bearers. We remain with no answers and families are without closure."