No rational link between placing Mchunu on special leave and outcomes of Madlanga Commission, court told

Lawyers for the MK Party have argued in the Pretoria High Court that there is no rational link between placing Minister Senzo Mchunu on special leave and the outcomes of the Madlanga Commission.

The party and its leader, former President Jacob Zuma, are back in court to challenge the decision by President Cyril Ramaphosa to appoint Firoz Cachalia as acting police minister while Mchunu is on suspension.

This move was prompted by an explosive press briefing by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who made serious allegations against Mchunu.

The MK Party’s battle is in the courts for a third time now, after it stalled in the Constitutional Court in July and was struck off the roll for lack of urgency in September.

When President Cyril Ramaphosa placed Mchunu on special leave following the allegations made against him, he said it would be pending the outcome of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.

Arguing on behalf of the MK Party, Advocate Dali Mpofu pointed out that the outcomes of the commission won’t necessarily inform the presidents next move.

He said that several politicians who were implicated in corruption during the Zondo Commission were still appointed to ministerial positions.

Mpofu said that as a president who has the sole prerogative when it comes to appointments to the executive, Ramaphosa didn’t need to have reasons to fire Mchunu.