By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The embattled Police Minister Senzo Mchunu says that he is ready to testify at the judicial commission of inquiry following allegations of interference.
Mchunu was speaking on Friday for the first time publicly on the allegations after President Cyril Ramaphosa placed him on leave of absence.
This in response to General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s allegations that Mchunu interfered with sensitive police investigations and colluded with business people, including a murder accused, to disband the political killings task team based in KZN.
“I am ready to explain my side and bring clarity,” said Mchunu.
“From where I stand, I am innocent of those allegations and I deny them very strongly, but let’s wait for the commission. And by the way, I’ve got lawyers, [and] I’ve engaged lawyers on this matter.”
Mchunu was speaking during the Nelson Mandela celebrations in KZN.
Ramaphosa appointed Firoz Cachalia as acting police minister, then named Minister of Mineral Resources Gwede Mantashe to fill the role for the next two weeks until Cachalia formally takes office.
Meanwhile uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party has approached the Constitutional Court seeking to have Ramaphosa’s decision to place Mchunu on special leave set aside.
In the court documents, the MK party said the president’s decision to place Mchunu on social leave and appoint Cachalia as acting minister was “irrational”, “invalid”, and inconsistent with obligations in the Constitution and Presidential Oath of Office.
“Declaring that the conduct or decisions of the president to establish the Judicial Commission of Inquiry is irrational and/or inconsistent with the obligations in section 83(b) of the constitution and/or the Presidential Oath of Office, read with sections 84(2)(f), 177, 178(4) and/or 180 of the constitution and is invalid,” the court papers read.
The party calls for each to be set aside with immediate effect.
The move comes after it issued an ultimatum to the president demanding that he resign by 8am on Friday, Mandela Day.
The party warned that if Ramaphosa misses the deadline, it will respond with a motion of no confidence, nationwide mass action, and constitutional litigation.