EFF, MK Party slam Mchunu 'special leave' decision
Two major opposition parties, the Economic Freedom Fighters and uMkhonto weSizwe Party, have been scathing about President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to place Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on special leave instead of removing him from office.
In separate statements issued on Sunday, the parties accused Ramaphosa of shielding a politically connected minister facing serious criminal allegations.
This follows explosive claims by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, implicating Mchunu in the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team and alleged collusion with a murder-accused tenderpreneur, Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala.
EFF leader Julius Malema called the decision a "cowardly deflection" and a "deliberate abuse of the Constitution," slamming the president for appointing a non-cabinet member, Professor Firoz Cachalia, as acting minister.
"It is a direct violation of Section 98 of the Constitution," he stated.
"Mchunu is no longer just a political figure; he is the face of an entrenched criminal syndicate operating within the state."
The EFF also questioned the legality of funding Mchunu’s ministerial salary while on special leave, stating it forces South Africans to "fund the lavish lifestyle of a criminal, while he consolidates power and undermines whistleblowers”.
The EFF’s Statement on the Decision to Place Senzo Mchunu on Special Leave
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) July 13, 2025
-This decision is not only illegal, it is also a flagrant abuse of state resources. It allows Senzo Mchunu to continue drawing a full ministerial salary under the guise of “special leave”, while the… pic.twitter.com/Krgo2iURHG
Meanwhile, the MK Party called the move "unconstitutional, politically dodgy, and financially expensive."
It rejected the appointment of Cachalia, claiming the decision was driven by Ramaphosa’s ties to anti-corruption groups funded by powerful interests.
"This is nothing but political patronage," said MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela, threatening legal action in the Constitutional Court if the decision is not withdrawn by Wednesday morning.
[MEDIA STATEMENT]: UMKHONTO WESIZWE PARTY STATEMENT DISMISSING AND REJECTING THE ILLEGITIMATE AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENT BY CYRIL RAMAPHOSA. pic.twitter.com/13fjksMxHj
— uMkhonto WeSizwe Party (Official) (@MkhontoweSizwex) July 14, 2025
Both parties accused the ANC of turning the state into a mafia network, arguing that Ramaphosa’s actions are part of a broader effort to protect his allies.
They warned that another judicial commission, such as the one announced to investigate the Mkhwanazi claims, would only serve to delay justice.
The MK Party further announced its intention to invite Mkhwanazi and National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola to appear before Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts to present the full scope of alleged political interference in law enforcement.
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