KZN police officer testifies on Mchunu's 'uncomfortable' by-election conduct

A senior police officer in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) testified before the Madlanga Commission of how Police Minister on special leave Senzo Mchunu allegedly pressured a station commander to take action against a former African National Congress (ANC) councillor who defected to the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party.

Acting Deputy Police Commissioner in KZN, Anthony Gopaul said that in March last year, Mchunu was in KwaDukuza to campaign for the ANC in a by-election.

The by-election was triggered by Vishnu Govender resigning as an ANC ward councillor and joining the MK Party.

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Gopaul said that while on the campaign trail in KwaDukuza’s Ward 28, Mchunu made a stop at the local police station.

He said that Mchunu was wearing ANC regalia and was accompanied by people also in the party’s colours.

Gopaul said that Mchunu told the station commander he had complaints from residents that police in the area were "in the pocket" of Govender.

At the time, Govender was a local councillor contesting the by-election for the MK Party.

Gopaul said that he told the minister there were currently no pending cases against Govender.

"Mr Govender in that particular community enjoyed huge support and that reflected in the polls, so it was slightly uncomfortable that somebody who won the previous elections by a landslide, the entire community is suddenly angry against him."

Govender eventually won the by-election, receiving 62% of the votes.