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Senzo Mchunu and Bheki Cele to face integrity commission over Lt-Gen Mkhwanazi's explosive allegations

IOL Reporter|Published

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu

Image: SAPS

African National Congress (ANC) figures implicated in Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi's explosive allegations on Sunday, are expected to appear before the party's integrity commission.

At the weekend, Mkhwanazi claimed that Police Minister Senzo Mchunu had links to well-known tenderpreneur Vusimusi 'Cat' Matlala and that Mchunu had disbanded the KwaZulu-Natal political killings task team.

In a media statement on Wednesday, Mchunu said he has never met or spoken to Matlala. 

Mchunu said he has never requested or received anything from Matlala, however he did state that he initiated a review of a police tender awarded to Matlala amid claims of possible wrongdoing. 

"It was the same tender that has since been terminated," Mchunu said. 

Furthermore, former police minister Bheki Cele reportedly spent time at Matlala's luxury home in Menlyn. 

The Star reported that Cele stayed in a luxury penthouse suite just days before Matlala’s company was awarded a R360 million SAPS health services tender. 

According to the report, the visit was not logged through official SAPS or government channels, and there is no record of state funds being used.

Former police minister Bheki Cele allegedly stayed in a luxury penthouse suite just days before Matlala’s company was awarded a R360 million SAPS health services tender. 

Image: Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers

According to ANC secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, they are expecting a full, comprehensive report from Mchunu following the KZN Police Commissioner's claims.

Mbalula said the ANC was on a renewal process and would not tolerate corruption and misconduct in the process.

"We have not met with comrade Senzo in this particular instance. I am fully confident he will engage with the leadership of the ANC and in particular, Luthuli House on the allegations that have been made,” Mbalula said at a media briefing.

“He owes it to the ANC, he doesn't have to be commanded. The ANC itself has its own processes, integrity commission and all of that. There are officials of the ANC, so he will brief us.”

Mbalula added that they can only act after President Cyril Ramaphosa meets with Mchunu.

Ramaphosa meanwhile said the claims made by Mkhwanazi "is a matter of grave national security concern that is receiving the highest priority attention.

It is vital that the integrity of the country’s security services is safeguarded and that the rule of law is affirmed."

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