Suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has told Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee that he had no personal or professional relationship with KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi during his time as the province’s Premier between 2013 and 2016.
Mchunu made the statement while giving evidence before the committee investigating allegations of political interference in police operations in KwaZulu-Natal. His appearance forms part of a crucial phase of the inquiry, which is expected to wrap up later this month.
Responding directly to claims made by Lt Gen Mkhwanazi that political figures — including Mchunu — had meddled in police affairs, the minister dismissed the allegations as entirely baseless. “I did not know General Mkhwanazi during my tenure as Premier. We never interacted formally or informally,” Mchunu told the committee. “I had no involvement in operational policing matters and never issued instructions to any officer.
He further emphasised his commitment to respecting institutional boundaries, saying, “Throughout my time in government, I maintained a strict separation between political office and policing.The police must always operate independently, free from political pressure.”
Mchunu’s testimony is being viewed as a key moment in the committee’s investigation, given that Mkhwanazi’s earlier submission placed him at the centre of the alleged interference network.
Committee chairperson Faith Muthambi confirmed that Mchunu’s evidence would play an important role in shaping the panel’s final findings. “We are now entering the final stages of deliberation. Every testimony, including Minister Mchunu’s, will be carefully evaluated before the report is tabled in Parliament,” she said.
Political observers say Mchunu’s statements reflect a clear attempt to distance himself from any suggestions of factional influence within law enforcement structures. “This is about clearing his name and protecting his political future,” one analyst noted.
The Ad Hoc Committee is expected to finalise its report before the end of October, with its recommendations likely to have major implications for both the Police Ministry and the South African Police Service’s leadership.
