By Mark Ogagan
As South Africa boils over allegations of massive corruption in the country’s police force, the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has given President Cyril Ramaphosa until Friday morning to withdraw his suspension order on Police Minister Senzo Mchunu or face legal action.
He has also been threatened with a motion of no confidence in parliament.
In a letter drafted by its lawyers, the official opposition contends that the announcement placing Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on a leave of absence, appointing Professor Firoz Cachalia to act in the position from the 1st of August, and establishing a Judicial Commission of Inquiry, is unconstitutional and irrational.
The MKP’s National spokesperson, Nhlamulo Ndlela says, “Let’s not forget that General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi also highlighted that some of the parliamentarians are complicit in these illegal and criminal activities. So, how is it possible that we can have ad hoc committees in parliament when some of them could be, in effect, the ones who are complicit? How is it that we can then call upon the judiciary that is also complicit in the same political killings that, as outlined by General Mkhwanazi, for them to preside over a judicial commission of inquiry?”
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the portfolio committee of Police and Justice and Constitutional Development, Xola Nqola, says it is important for Parliament to be involved in getting to the bottom of allegations of political interference in police.
This, as the committees of Justice and Police are meeting to discuss how Parliament must deal with allegations made by KZN Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
Nqola explains, “Parliament must act decisively to circumvent the situation we are in. Maybe an unintended consequence, we may disregard, people of SA may lose confidence in police; South Africans may take the law into their own hands, SA becomes a lawless country.”
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