Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has denied knowing a man who appears to be at the centre of allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

Mkhwanazi opened a can of worms on Sunday when he accused Mchunu and other senior police officials of corruption and political interference in the criminal justice system.

WATCH: Top cops accused of undermining police work, political interference & corruption

The damning allegations against Mchunu and Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection, Shadrack Sibiya centre around alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala, who Mkhwanazi claimed can be directly linked to the Minister through an associate, Brown Mogotsi.

Matlala, who was arrested in May for attempted murder, had been awarded an R360-million police contract, which had since been cancelled.

Mkhwanazi also slammed Mchunu’s decision to disband the political killings task team without apparently informing the national police commissioner, Fannie Masemola.

In a statement released on Wednesday morning, Mchunu pushed back, asserting that he has never met, spoken to, or received anything from “Cat” Matlala.

The Minister says he did, however, initiate a review of the SAPS tender awarded to him when suspicions of possible wrongdoing surfaced.

It was the same tender which has since been terminated.

Mchunu also stated that whilst he knows and has met Brown Mogotsi, he is just a ‘comrade’ and not an associate of the Minister. The Minister says he has never requested or received anything from him.

As the crisis of confidence continues at the top of the SAPS, National Police Commisioner Fannie Masemola has assured the public that policing operations are continuing unabated and will not be impacted.

President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed his grave concern, calling on all parties to exercise discipline and restraint.

Ramaphosa says he will outline the actions that will be taken on this matter upon his return from the BRICS Leaders’ Summit in Brazil.

Meanwhile, the DA has requested an urgent joint parliamentary inquiry between the Portfolio Committees of Police and Justice to investigate the allegations.