Suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has resumed his work as an ANC NEC member.
Image: ARMAND HOUGH Independent Newspapers
Suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has officially resumed his duties as a National Executive Committee member.
In his first public appearance as an NEC member, five months of stepping aside, Mchunu delivered a eulogy at the funeral of ANC member, Bhekabathethwa Mthethwa in Richards Bay on Sunday.
Mchunu appeared before the Ad Hoc Committee and the Madlanga Commission to justify his decision to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) and respond to allegations of corruption, specifically regarding ties to a tender tycoon and interfering with police operations.
This was after KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi accused Mchunu of instructing the disbandment of the PKTT on 31 December 2024 without consulting national police leadership, allegedly to protect politically connected individuals.
Mkhwanazi further claimed Mchunu had ties to crime syndicates, controversial businessman Vusumusi ‘Cat’ Matlala.
Last week, Mchunu wrote to the ANC asking to resume his duties as an NEC member – this was confirmed by his private spokesperson Sithembiso Mshengu on Sunday.
“He voluntarily stepped aside, he wrote to the party to inform the leadership that he was returning to his position, not necessarily seeking permission, You remember that he is not facing any criminal charges to be forced to step aside. He asked to be excused to protect the image of the ANC after Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s accusations,” said Mshengu.
In terms of the ANC’s step aside policy, once a member is criminally charged, he or she must stop representing the party both in government and political platforms.
Mchunu was placed on special leave in July following Mkhwanazi’s explosive revelations that suggested he was working with a Gauteng drug cartel which had apparently influenced his decision to disband the PKTT.
Mchunu had repeatedly denied having been influenced by a drug cartel in his appearances in both Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee and the Madlanga Commission.