📍 LIVE from Malothi Park: “Policing the Policed” — Inside the Suspension of Police Minister Senzo Mchunu

By Jonathan Wigley – SLA News, 17 July 2025

1. The Political Earthquake at the Helm of SAPS

On 13 July 2025, President Cyril Ramaphosa placed Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on immediate special leave, pending a judicial commission of inquiry. This followed explosive allegations from General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, the KwaZulu‑Natal police commissioner. Mkhwanazi claimed that Mchunu obstructed investigations into politically connected crimes and was protecting underworld figures linked to state capture.

“The minister interfered with high-profile investigations and disbanded units designed to uncover political assassinations,” said Mkhwanazi during a dramatic televised statement flanked by masked tactical officers.

🔗 Reuters: Ramaphosa removes police minister over criminal link allegations

2. “Cat” Matlala, Underworld Signals & the Rise of State Capture 2.0

At the centre of this web is Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, a notorious figure already serving time for financial and gang-related crimes. Mkhwanazi alleged that 121 politically sensitive cases were “archived prematurely”, shielding Matlala and others with political connections, including Brown Mogotsi, a close Mchunu ally.

🔗 IOL: Taxpayers to fund Mchunu’s R2.69m salary during suspension

This unfolding scandal reflects a second wave of state capture—this time within the very agencies meant to protect the rule of law.

3. Ramaphosa at a Crossroads: Leadership or Treadmill?

Despite mounting evidence, Ramaphosa stopped short of firing Mchunu, instead launching yet another judicial inquiry. This marks the fifth major commission under his presidency—yet few high-level prosecutions have materialised.

“We’re witnessing a presidency defined more by commissions than convictions,” says one civil society commentator.

His appointment of Firoz Cachalia as acting minister signals an attempt to stabilise optics—but inspires little confidence in reform.

🔗 AP News: Ramaphosa suspends police minister, launches probe

4. The IRR in the Shadows: Liberal Guardians or Elite Bystanders?

Amid this chaos, the Institute of Race Relations (IRR)—once a champion of constitutionalism—has remained largely silent. Since the 2021 appointment of Dr John Endres as CEO, the IRR has focused on economic liberalism and market freedoms.

Its silence in the face of police capture and executive dysfunction raises a critical question:
Is the IRR still a watchdog—or simply a think tank for elite preservation?

5. From Malothi Park: A Citizen’s Lens on Erosion and Hopes

As I write from Malothi Park, I reflect on my own experience—wrongful arrests, intimidation, and loss of livelihood. These are not isolated incidents but part of a larger pattern of institutional decay.

Yet, there is hope.

AI-powered platforms like SkillsLink Academy, driven by decentralised learning and entrepreneurship, are leapfrogging corrupt systems. They offer new power to ordinary South Africans—outside elite patronage networks.

6. South Africa’s Critical Moment: Commission or Collapse?

The suspension of Senzo Mchunu cannot be treated as just another headline. It demands:

Real prosecution of implicated actors
Reform of the SAPS from within
Public oversight of judicial commissions
Decentralisation of power through tech and education

This is a defining moment for South Africa. Whether we emerge stronger depends on our collective courage to act—beyond votes, beyond party lines, beyond apathy.