Gen Mkhwanazi said the team’s investigations had uncovered links to high-profile individuals — including politicians, police officials, and businesspeople tied to a drug cartel syndicate – and this is why the team was disbanded.
When he dissolved the unit earlier this year, Mchunu said it was not adding value in the province, despite many cases remaining unsolved.
According to Gen Mkhwanazi, a total of 121 case files were allegedly removed from the unit on the minister’s instruction and without the authorisation of his boss, the national police commissioner General Fannie Masemola.
“These case dockets have, since March, been sitting at the head office ever since without any investigation work done on them. Five of these dockets already had instructions to [effect] arrests.”
The provincial police chief also alleged Mr Mchunu had ties to a controversial businessman who was “financially supporting” the minister’s political career.
Members and supporters of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) have started to gather at Church Square in Pretoria ahead of their march to the Union Buildings.
Defence for South Africa and other civic movements have also organised a march from Marabastad to the Union Buildings to demand President Cyril Ramaphosa’s immediate resignation.
The MKP’s march is the second in Gauteng this week.
Vusimuzi Matlala had a lucrative contract with the police before it was abruptly cancelled when he was arrested for attempted murder in May. Gen Mkhwanazi shared copies of text messages and a payment allegedly made by Mr Matlala to prove this.
Gen Masemola, on his part, said he would address these allegations later in the week when he announces the appointment of the temporary crime intelligence boss.
Criminal intelligence chief Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo was arrested over fraud and corruption allegations last month.
Gen Khumalo and the other six had been linked to an ongoing investigation into alleged abuse of intelligence funds and potentially unlawful appointments within the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has been accused of having ties tocriminal gangs and of meddling in police investigations into politically motivated murders.
These explosive allegations were made by KwaZulu-Natal police boss Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi at a press briefing on Sunday.
He said Mr Mchunu was receiving financial support from an allegedly corrupt businessman to fund his “political endeavours”.
Mr Mchunu has since denied what he says are “wild allegations” while President Cyril Ramaphosa said they were of “grave national security concern” and “receiving the highest priority attention”.
A joint committee meeting in Parliament has highlighted how politicians are divided over KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s recent corruption accusations sparking major law enforcement ructions in South Africa.
Clear divisions have emerged in Parliament relating to how different political party representatives view KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and his recent police corruption accusations.
EFF and MK party politicians made comments on Wednesday, 16 July 2025, including: “We are General Mkhwanazi and General Mkhwanazi is us.”
The National Coloured Congress, however, made it clear that it did not buy into Mkhwanazi’s claims, with its leader saying he was basically being “eulogised” but had deflected from the possible imminent arrest of national Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola.
This all emerged on Wednesday when Parliament’s police committee and its justice and constitutional development committee held a joint meeting to deal with issues relating to Mkhwanazi’s allegations.
