Ramaphosa breaking law with Mchunu suspension, ConCourt hears
President Cyril Ramaphosa has been accused of trying to save his ‘friend’, Senzo Mchunu, by placing him on special leave.
The Constitutional Court on Wednesday heard an application by the MK Party, challenging Ramaphosa’s decision to suspend Mchunu in the wake of damning allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal's police commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
The MK Party is arguing that the move is unlawful.
Mkhwanazi earlier this month made a host of claims, including that Mchunu was involved in attempts to obstruct justice by trying to disband the Political Killings Task Team, apparently as the unit was closing in on a criminal syndicate in Gauteng.
Ramaphosa set up a judicial commission of inquiry to investigate the allegations and appointed Professor Firoz Cachalia as acting police minister.
Advocate Dali Mpofu for the MK Party on Wednesday argued that Ramaphosa is trying to have the best of both worlds.
" This whole manoeuvre is about that. How do I save my friend and close political ally, give him a salary for the next three years [or] five years - God knows for how long? - while he is doing nothing. But [he] keeps the bodyguards, drivers, and the title.
" The law is very clear. You must do one or the other. It's very easy, Justice. [If] you want Professor Cachalia, then you must dismiss Minister Mchunu."
Mchunu has denied the allegations against him.
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