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IOL News
39 minutes ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Judicial Commission of Inquiry launched into into Mchunu's alleged misconduct
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu placed on special leave and will be investigated for interfering with police work. Image: IOL Graphics President Cyril Ramaphosa has suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and appointed a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to probe his alleged interference in police work. Addressing the nation on Sunday Ramaphosa said after the KwaZulu-Natal provincial Police Commissioner's revelations that Mchunu had allegedly interfered with police work and allegedly colluded with business people in circumventing police investigations, he has decided to place him on special leave. The president also announced that the commission will be chaired by the Acting Chief Mbuyiseli Justice Madlanga who is due for retirement soon, adding that the retirement will enable him to focus on the job at hand. The president also announced that Professor Firoz Cachalia will act as Police Minister at the beginning of the next month, however, a cabinet minister will be appointed to act until Cachallia takes over. In terms of the constitution the president is allowed to appoint to his cabinet three people outside of parliament. The commission has been instructed to deliver its preliminary report within three months and full report within six months. The president reiterated that allegations and if not addressed were going to have a negative impact. The commission will investigate the facilitation of organised crime, targeting of officials who were against the criminal activities within the security cluster or government. The commission will investigate officials who may have aided criminals,' said Ramaphosa. The country has been on the edge since last week after KwaZulu-Natal provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi alleged Minister Mchunu, politicians, the top brass in the police, prosecutors, and judges were in the pockets of crime syndicates. Mkhwanazi said last year, he received a request from Gauteng's police organised crime unit for assistance in arresting drug cartel suspects who the unit had discovered were working with top politicians in Parliament. He stated that the unit arrested a businessman Vusimuzi Cat Matlala and police discovered text messages between the minister and the suspect. Matlala has had about R360 million tender with SAPS which was later cancelled after it emerged that there were alleged discrepancies during the bid. He further stated that the minister's associate Brown Mogotsi also sent a message to the suspect informing him that he had arranged a meeting between the minister and the Deputy National Commissioner from Crime Prevention, Shadrack Sibiya, to find a solution. Mogotsi whom Mchunu has later admitted is said to be used by him as a proxy in dealing with underworld syndicates. Mkhwanazi also alleged that the real reason for disbanding the political killings unit was a revenge by Mchunu for assisting in arresting Matlala. Cape Argus
IOL News
4 hours ago
- Politics
- IOL News
‘My fellow South Africans': Here's what you need to know ahead of Ramaphosa's address tonight
Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu's future hangs in balance as President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to address the nation following explosive allegations levelled against him. Image: IOL Graphics Opposition parties, including the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Democratic Alliance, MK Party, ActionSA and IFP, are calling for Police Minister Senzo Mchunu to be fired following explosive allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Sunday marks a week since Mkhwanazi publicly accused Mchunu of interfering in police investigations and protecting criminal networks. Following the explosive allegations, there's been increasing pressure on President Cyril Ramaphosa to act ahead of his scheduled address to the nation at 7pm on Sunday. Mkhwanazi accused Mchunu of disbanding the Political Killings Task Team in March, effectively withdrawing 121 active dockets, many linked to politically motivated killings. He presented WhatsApp messages, South African Police Service (SAPS) documents, and cellphone records, alleging a coordinated effort to dismantle the unit. He also implicated Brown Mogotsi, a 'comrade' of Mchunu, in communicating with suspects, including businessman Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala, who secured a R360 million SAPS contract in 2024. The contract has since been canceled. According to Mkhwanazi, Mogotsi informed Matlala of the unit's disbandment and that SAPS crime detection head Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya had taken over the dockets. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Financial links allegedly connect Mchunu, Mogotsi and Matlala to political fundraisers and events. 'This was no accident,' Mkhwanazi said. 'It was a calculated move to shield a criminal syndicate embedded in law enforcement and politics.' Since its formation in 2018, the task team handled 612 cases and secured more than 100 convictions. Mkhwanazi said efforts to shut down the unit intensified after weapons linked to high-profile assassinations were uncovered. Mchunu, in a December 2024 letter to National Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Fannie Masemola, claimed the unit had 'outlived its usefulness.' However, Masemola later denied authorising its closure. In response to the claims, several opposition parties have lodged criminal complaints. The DA filed a complaint at Cape Town Central police station, while the MK Party opened a case at Brooklyn police station. The EFF also filed a complaint with Parliament's Ethics Committee, accusing Mchunu of constitutional violations and unlawful interference in SAPS operations. The DA said it expects Ramaphosa to take decisive action. EFF leader Julius Malema said Mchunu should be dismissed immediately. 'Well, the president should fire Mchunu immediately,' Malema told reporters Saturday at the funeral of former Deputy President David Mabuza in Barberton, Mpumalanga. 'He is new in the job but already tainted. He went to that institution to do wrong things.' MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela said: 'We refuse to stand idle in the face of injustice and remain dedicated to upholding the course of the law.' Zwakele Mncwango, KwaZulu-Natal chairperson of ActionSA, rejected the idea of a commission of inquiry, saying it would be wasteful. 'They must face jail. They must go through the prosecution processes like everyone else. Why must we have commissions and waste money?' Mncwango said. However, the IFP called for an independent commission of inquiry led by a retired judge. 'The SAPS ecosystem cannot self-investigate, as it is both subject to and a participant in the allegations,' said IFP national spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa. 'We further call for Minister Mchunu to be placed on special leave until the commission concludes its work.' He said Ramaphosa must act swiftly 'for the sake of national interest and security. Meanwhile, ordinary South Africans also echoed the political outrage. 'Ramaphosa should use his address to deliver a strong anti-corruption message. To restore order and stability, he should dismiss Mchunu and also Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane,' said Dipuo Modiba from Mokopane, in Limpopo. 'Ramaphosa must open a commission to investigate the allegations made against Mchunu,' said Londeka Kunene from Soshanguve, Pretoria. In a statement, the presidency said Ramaphosa would 'take the nation into his confidence' during his address, following engagements with key stakeholders. There's been reports that Mchunu asked Ramaphosa to place him on leave following explosive allegations against him. IOL News previously reported political analyst Goodenough Mashego said Ramaphosa may opt to suspend rather than fire Mchunu, given his role in securing African National Congress (ANC) support in KwaZulu-Natal. 'In a normal democracy, a minister facing such allegations would step aside. But because Mchunu played a key role in KZN, Ramaphosa may avoid firing him to keep that support base intact.' Mashego said Ramaphosa could use the moment to reshuffle his Cabinet and appoint someone with real policing experience, even from outside the ANC. 'This is the time to look beyond party lines,' he said. 'There's a Government of National Unity now. Ramaphosa could appoint someone from another party.' IOL Politics
IOL News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Alleged crime kingpin and tenderpreneur Vusimuzi ‘Cat' Matlala in court over attempted murder charges
Vusimuzi 'Cat ' Matlala a wealthy government contractor, will appear at the Alexandra Regional Court for attempted murder charges. Image: IOL Graphics 'High-risk' controversial tender tycoon and crime accused Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala is expected to appear in the Alexandra Magistrate's Court on Friday morning, following his decision to abandon a bail application last month. His wife, Tsakani Matlala, was granted bail of R20,000. Matlala, 49, who is a Pretoria businessman, faces charges of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and money laundering. He is currently being held at the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre's C-Max unit. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The Matlalas face charges linked to a high-profile attack on actress and socialite Tebogo Thobejane, who survived a dramatic shooting incident in October 2023 on the N1 highway near Sandton, Johannesburg. Thobejane, known for her role on the popular television drama Muvhango, was shot in the foot, while a female passenger in the car sustained a serious spinal cord injury. Matlala's wife, Tsakani, was added to the case in May. Last month, the court was told that the lawyers on both sides had made a deal before the hearing. This was because of her health and the fact that she has small children, the prosecutors did not argue against letting her out on bail. As part of her bail conditions, Tsakani was ordered to surrender her passport, remain in Gauteng, and refrain from contacting witnesses or relatives of the other accused. Matlala was arrested in Midrand on May 14 following what police described as a high-profile investigation. Officials say he was behind the hit attempt on Thobejane and helped clean millions in dirty money, including cash from a shady R360 million South African Police Service (SAPS) tender. Matlala, who used to show off luxury cars, and huge houses, now shares a maximum-security prison with high-profile criminals like convicted killer Thabo Bester. Recently, a mobile phone was discovered in Matlala's possession during a raid led by Correctional Services National Commissioner Makgothi Samuel Thobakgale at Kgosi Mampuru's C-Max section. The device was confiscated and handed over to SAPS. 'Cat Matlala is at the C-Max correction facility because of a classification. He is classified as high-risk,' Thobakgale said. 'On Sunday morning, we did a surprise search and found a cellphone in his possession.' At the time of the discovery, Matlala was being housed in a medium-security section of the prison, referred to as 'local.' Thobakgale said investigations are ongoing to determine how he accessed the device. 'When we find objects like cellphones in cases that are high-risk like this one, we hand the object over to the South African Police Service, which is what we did immediately,' Thobakgale said. Matlala has recently been linked to Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu in serious allegations of interference and misconduct within the police service, made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. During a press conference held in Durban on Sunday, Mkhwanazi alleged that Mchunu was the subject of a criminal investigation and implicated in a broader scheme involving corrupt elements within SAPS leadership. Matlala's company had been awarded a R360-million health services tender from the SAPS. However the tender has since been scrapped. In May 2025, National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola cancelled the contract, stating that Matlala's firm should not have progressed beyond the initial bidding stage. Meanwhile, Mchunu has rejected the allegations and denied any connection to Matlala. IOL
IOL News
4 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu faces criminal charges over Lt-Gen Mkhwanazi's explosive claims
DA to lay criminal charges against Police Minister Senzo Mchunu after explosive allegations by KZN police boss Lt Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Image: IOL Graphics A dark cloud continues to hang over Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, as he now faces criminal charges against him over explosive allegations of misconduct and interference in police operations by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. The DA announced it will lay charges on Thursday at the Cape Town Central Police Station. The party's Deputy Chief Whip, Baxolile Nodada; justice spokesperson Glynnis Breytenbach; intelligence spokesperson Dianne Kohler Barnard, and deputy police spokesperson Lisa Schickerling are expected to lead the charge and address the media afterward. The DA has accused Mchunu of misleading Parliament earlier this year when he told the Portfolio Committee on Police that he did not know North West businessman Brown Mogotsi. Mogotsi has since been implicated in alleged political interference in police operations by Mkhwanazi. Mchunu has now admitted, four months after his denial, that he does, in fact, know Mogotsi, but only 'as a comrade.' This comes after he told Parliament on March 5 that he doesn't know Mogotsi. 'I don't know this person,' he said in reference to Mogotsi. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ He claimed then that he had been shown a photo of the man after reports emerged that someone was falsely claiming to be associated with him, but he denied recognising the individual. However, in a statement issued on Wednesday, Mchunu said he had met Mogotsi but downplayed the relationship. 'Whilst the minister knows and has met Mogotsi, he is just a comrade and not an associate of the minister. The minister has never requested or received anything from him,' the statement read. The admission follows damning allegations by Mkhwanazi, who claimed Mchunu and other senior police leaders are linked to a criminal syndicate with ties to drug cartels and politically connected figures. Mkhwanazi accused Mchunu of lying about his relationship with Mogotsi and colluding to protect influential individuals from prosecution. Speaking to the police portfolio committee in March, Mchunu said: 'I think I picked up something that Provincial Commissioner Mkhwanazi is saying about some fellow. Two weeks ago, I got somebody insisting that somebody was going around saying he works with me wherever I am, he is there. I said, 'Show me the face.' And it got to a point where he showed me his face and I told him, 'I don't know this person.'' Mchunu, however, clarified that although he knows Mogotsi, they are not close and have no transactional relationship. The controversy also involves murder-accused businessman Vusimuzi Matlala.
IOL News
4 days ago
- IOL News
Inside South African prisons: How inmates use cellphones to continue crime behind bars
Vusimuzi 'Cat ' Matlala a wealthy government contractor, is now at the center of a criminal syndicate probe involving top politicians, assassination plots, illegal firearms, and a growing national scandal. Image: IOL Graphics Seasoned specialist investigator Mike Bolhuis has expressed no surprise following news that Vusumuzi 'Cat' Matlala, the man widely accused of being at the heart of police infiltration and capture of law enforcement apparatus in South Africa, was found with a mobile phone during a raid at the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre in Pretoria. IOL has previously reported that on Tuesday night and into the early hours of Wednesday, Correctional Services national commissioner Makgothi Samuel Thobakgale led an extensive raid and search operation at the correctional centre in Pretoria, including its high-security C-Max section. The raid on Tuesday and Wednesday followed another blitz conducted on Sunday, during which officials found Matlala with a mobile phone. Commenting on the revelations that Matlala has been connected from behind prison walls, Bolhuis told broadcaster Newzroom Afrika that many of the criminal gangs terrorising South Africans are being run from prisons. 'That has always been (the case). The people in prisons just carry on with their crimes. They are just in smaller spaces," said Bolhuis. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ National commissioner of Correctional Services, Makgothi Samuel Thobakgale. Image: File 'Some of the biggest gangs are operating in prisons. Vusi will very soon be in control of that whole prison, because the prison system is rotten as well, completely to the core. The new minister is making as much headway as possible. It has unfortunately gone too far." On Wednesday, Thobakgale said nearly 800 were searched during the extensive inspection he led at the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre, which houses some of South Africa's notorious criminals. 'We found more than 105 cellphones. I am saying this because the tally before we went B-Max and C-Max was at 104, and at B-Max we found one cellphone. At C-Max we did not find any contraband at all," said Thobakgale. The majority of the cellphones were found at the prison section referred to as 'local', where more than 2,000 offenders are housed in communal cells. Thobakgale said the authorities also found sharp objects and drugs, including crystal meth, mandrax, and dagga. Regarding the source of the contraband, Thobakgale said prisoners often bring the illicit goods after they attend courts outside the prison. 'We search them, but some of them are able to hide this contraband in their bodies. We utilise body scanners, but we have a few of those in the country," he said.
