President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement that he has placed police minister Senzo Mchunu on special leave came hours after Mchunu was scheduled to meet the party’s integrity commission.
According to insiders in the ANC, Mchunu had been scheduled to meet the ANC’s body of elders on Sunday to state his case.
The ANC’s national working committee is expected to meet today before the party’s NEC meeting this coming weekend (July 18), where a report will be tabled on its performance in government.
The decision by Ramaphosa could sound the death knell for Mchunu’s presidential ambitions.
Mchunu has previously been touted as one of the ANC leaders vying to succeed Ramaphosa in its 2027 elective congress.
Ramaphosa announced that Mchunu would be replaced by Prof Firoz Cachalia, who would take up the post in August.
We are a 40% party. If we are arrogant and continue as usual, we will be crushed in next year's elections. This matter has placed us at great risk. The hyenas are circling, even the MK Party has taken a moral high ground on this matter, so we can't afford to have tainted individuals in the NWC.
— ANC insider
One ANC insider said Mchunu is unlikely to be called to step aside by the ANC given that he has not been charged.
However, Mchunu will be lobbied to step back from his role in the NEC and its national working committee.
“Our credibility and standing in the country have been shattered. So we have to act and be seen to be acting. Mchunu is not unreasonable; he is a party man, and I think he will voluntarily step aside until the work of the commission is concluded.”
Another high-ranking leader said they expect Mchunu to be lobbied to give up his ANC duties on Monday.
“We are a 40% party. If we are arrogant and continue as usual, we will be crushed in next year's elections. This matter has placed us at great risk. The hyenas are circling, even the MK Party has taken a moral high ground on this matter, so we can't afford to have tainted individuals in the NWC. We will have to address this matter on Monday,” the insider said.
ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said the commission process is rigorous. "We normally avoid second-guessing the commission. At an appropriate time, the commission will take us into confidence," she said.
KZN police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi shocked the country last week when he revealed cracks in the highest levels of the police, where rival factions are fighting for control of the crime intelligence division.
The fight is often characterised by the dissemination of disinformation, deceit and lies, endangering national security, the Sunday Times reported.
Mkhwanazi said Mchunu’s instruction that the police task team on political killings be disbanded violated procedure because national commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola was sidelined from the decision.
Mkhwanazi alleged that Mchunu and his associate, Brown Mogotsi, have been in a dodgy relationship with a police service provider and murder accused Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
Mchunu is one of Ramaphosa’s allies, having helped get him elected in the ANC elective conference in 2017.
Ramaphosa also announced he has established a judicial commission of inquiry chaired by acting deputy chief justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga to investigate allegations relating to the infiltration of law enforcement, intelligence and associated institutions within the criminal justice system by criminal syndicates.
Ramaphosa said Mkhwanazi’s media briefing raised serious concerns around the constitution, the rule of law and national security.
Madlanga’s commission will be assisted by Adv Sesi Baloyi SC and Adv Sandile Khumalo SC.
Among the allegations that the commission may investigate are the facilitation of organised crime; suppression or manipulation of investigations; inducement into criminal actions by law enforcement leadership; commission of any other criminal offences and intimidation, victimisation or targeted removal of whistle-blowers or officials resisting criminal influence.
He said Madlanga is retiring from the Constitutional Court at the end of July after years of distinguished service and would therefore dedicate himself to the work of this commission.
The ANC’s government of national unity partners with the DA and other opposition parties, including ActionSA and the MK Party, have all laid criminal charges against Mchunu.
National Assembly speaker Thoko Didiza has already announced parliament's process involving three committees to investigate the allegations against Mchunu.
Last week, Didiza said she had asked the police, the justice and constitutional development portfolio committees and the joint standing committee on intelligence to look into the allegations.
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