Suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has sent legal letters to the South African Police Service after officers attempted to conduct a search and seizure operation at his residence on Thursday.
The legal correspondence from Mchunu’s lawyer accuses the police of intimidation and defamation and demands a copy of the search warrant to challenge its validity.
This operation occurred on the same day police raided the home of Deputy National Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya. Mchunu’s chief of staff also reported a similar attempt at his home.
According to a police brigadier’s affidavit, the searches aimed to seize electronic devices as part of an investigation. The affidavit alleges that evidence from phones belonging to businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala suggests Mchunu and Sibiya worked with others to disband a special investigative task team.
These developments coincide with ongoing separate inquiries by the Madlanga Commission and a Parliamentary committee into allegations of political interference in police work.