Mchunu side-steps resignation questions over alleged links to cartels

SUSPENDED police minister Senzo Mchunu refused to indicate whether he would resign over claims that he was linked to criminal cartels. 

“I do not know what you are talking about. We are in the Ad Hoc Committee.  We are dealing with the problems that we are dealing with at the moment. What you are introducing, I can’t answer.”

Mchunu said he was wondering why National Commissioner Fannie Masemola and KwaZulu-Natal Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi claimed that his decision to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) was political interference.

“It is something I am still baffled about that I am associated with drug cartels. Now, I am saying there is no drug cartel that I am linked to. There is none, and I never acted in support, directly or indirectly, of any drug cartel in South Africa. It never happened,” he said.

Mchunu was responding to questions from ActionSA MP Dereleen James, who asked why he would believe the two most senior police officials would make such a serious allegation about him.

He said before Mkhwanazi’s explosive briefing on July 6, the Crime Intelligence had briefed him about cartels involving drugs and firearms, and that it turned out there was no “Big Five” other than other cartels.

“I want to say I am not linked to any. Why the two would have come here and say I am linked, I don’t know why, but I am yet to hear what they are basing it on,” Mchunu said.

This took place moments after Patriotic Alliance MP Ashley Sauls backed Mchunu for his decision to disband the PKTT after he found it added no value in the SAPS, other than a high budget not intended for investigation.

Sauls said he was however not convinced by Mchunu’s testimony on Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and Brown Mogotsi.

“Your testimony there is very questionable. I am not convinced by it,” he said before urging Mchunu not to worry about his position and the public opinion.

Earlier, James said Masemola and Mkhwanazi testified that Mchunu had disbanded the PKTT after mistaking it for the unit that was investigating drug cartels in Gauteng.

“I deny that very strongly,” he said.

When James then asked Mchunu if he knew his “comrade” Mogotsi was linked to the attempted murder-accused tenderpreneur Matlala, the minister said it looked like the pair were close, according to testimony at the Madlanga Commission.

Mchunu also said him speaking to Brown did not automatically mean he spoke to the people his “comrade” knew.

James Mchunu’s predecessor  Bheki Cele, who will take the stand today, would testify that he was told by Matlala that Mogotsi and Mchunu met the tenderpreneur to discuss his campaign for the ANC presidency.

In his response, Mchunu said it would be a lie.

“It would be a lie if it were to happen even without me asking for evidence because I know that has never happened,” he said.

Cape Times