President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered the creation of a special task team to investigate senior police officers implicated in allegations of criminal infiltration of the justice cluster in a bid to fast-track prosecutions. But his lack of action against one of his political allies, suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu, has attracted criticism. Ramaphosa, whose presidency has faced much criticism for the lack of prosecutions based on the state capture commission, has for the first time in the country yet directed the establishment of a task team to conduct a criminal investigation into individuals implicated at the Madlanga commission.
The commission, chaired by justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, is investigating allegations of infiltration of sophisticated criminal syndicates in the upper echelons of law enforcement agencies. Ramaphosa directed that 14 individuals, including KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head Lesetja Senona, be investigated after the commission found prima facie evidence of wrongdoing warranting criminal or disciplinary action. Yet despite taking action against the 14 people implicated, Ramaphosa has not taken any action against Mchunu, who is expected to give further evidence as witnesses continue to make allegations of interference against him.
He has also not touched Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya, who was also largely implicated by many witnesses at the hearing. Opposition political parties have labelled the lack of action by Mchunu’s political principal as protection while officials face the heat. Independent policing expert Johan Burger told Business Day the president’s move is vital for the prosecution of corrupt police officers.
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“You cannot, on the basis of the evidence or testimonies at the commission, charge a person criminally and take that person to court. There needs to be a criminal investigation,” he said. The commission indicated prima facie evidence of wrongdoing and made referrals for further investigations against Senona, Maj-Gen Richard Shibiri, Brig Mbangwa Nkhwashu, Brig Rachel Matjeng and Sergeant Fannie Nkosi. Senona, who faces an internal Hawks misconduct disciplinary process, was accused of leaking confidential police information to attempted murder accused Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
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