Minister Senzo Mchunu, who was placed on special leave following accusations of his alleged links to underworld figures, has resumed duties as a member of the ANC’s National Executive Committee.  

He confirmed this in an interview with the SABC in Kwambonambi over the weekend. 

He was placed on a leave of absence by President Cyril Ramaphosa in July last year, with his role as police minister temporarily filled by Acting Minister Professor Firoz Cachalia. 

At the time, Ramaphosa called for an investigation into allegations that Mchunu “allegedly interfered with sensitive police investigations and colluded with business people to disband the Political Killings Task Team”. 

His name came up again recently, when Lieutenant-General Nhhlanhla Mkhwanazi returned to Parliament’s Ad-Hoc Committee probing alleged police capture.

Last week, Mkhwanazi testified that he received a handwritten document allegedly written by the cellmate of alleged crime boss Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, at the Kgosi Mampuru C-Max Prison in Pretoria. According to Mkhwanazi, the letter reportedly mentions that Mchunu met with the former National Director of Public Prosecutions, Shamila Batohi, to coerce alleged crime boss, Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, to make a statement denying that they know each other. 

In his interview with the SABC, Mchunu challenged Mkhwanazi to provide evidence of the claims.