Witness E told the Madlanga Commission that suspected police minister Senzo Mchunu personally tried to coach him into lying under oath to the commission. Suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has vowed to challenge the damaging allegations that have been levelled against him by witnesses at the Madlanga Commission. He informed The Mercury that he intends to return to the commission and is awaiting to be summoned.
Mchunu needs to clear the air regarding the damaging testimony made by a police officer who testified in hiding on Monday. The resumption of the commission has been a challenging situation for the minister, as the first two witnesses provided testimonies implying that he had interfered with the work of the police. These testimonies have intensified calls for President Cyril Ramaphosa to take decisive action against the minister.
A letter surfaced on Tuesday stating that Mchunu refutes some of the claims made against him, including allegations that he tried to coerce a witness into making a false statement. He confirmed to The Mercury, “Yes, the letter released as a media statement is authentic; it is to rebut the claims that have been made. I will be going back to the commission; I do not know when, as you know that in the commission, you are called; you do not just come.” Mchunu declined to speak any further on the matter, stating that he does not want to do interviews at this stage.
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“I do not want to do interviews while I am on leave; I can only confirm the letter that is the media statement,” he added. In a statement released yesterday, the minister asserted that some of the damaging testimonies presented at the commission this week are false. In his letter, Mchunu said he is “rebutting” all the claims made against him by Witness E, describing them as untruthful.
“I have taken note of the evidence presented by the second witness at the Madlanga Commission on Monday. I deny the allegations he makes about me, including the interactions regarding his statement. I am aware that I am due to appear again at the commission, and I will seek to respond.
My lawyers are already dealing with the matter,” he stated. ActionSA MP Alan Beesley said it was time for the president to act against the minister.
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