By Simon Nare
The Democratic Alliance has laid a fraud charge against Police Minister Senzo Mchunu for allegedly misleading Parliament about his relationship with a businessman implicated in political interference allegations.
After laying the charge at the Cape Town Central Police Station on Thursday, the DA vowed to also submit a formal complaint to Parliament’s Joint Committee on Ethics and Member’s Interests.
This comes after Mchunu made an about turn concerning his relationship with North West businessman Brown Mogotsi, who is linked to political interference in the SA Police Service. He is also allegedly an associate of alleged killer, businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
Mogotsi shot to the spotlight on Sunday after KwaZulu-Natal provincial commissioner General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi made an explosive revelation at a press conference about his links to Mchunu and Matlala.
In March this year during a portfolio committee sitting, Mkhwanazi told the committee about messages he received from Mogotsi, who claimed to be an associate of Mchunu. The police minister denied knowing him.
But with pressure mounting following the revelations, Mchunu acknowledged on Wednesday that he knew Mogotsi as a comrade, but he was not an associate.
The DA has accused the minister of misleading Parliament. It says this is a criminal offence and Mchunu must be held accountable.
“This reversal directly contradicts his earlier denial and raises grave concerns about whether he deliberately misled Parliament – a criminal act in terms of the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act,” the party said.
The DA further said that Mchunu had committed fraud by knowingly making a false statement with the intent to mislead Parliament, and violated the Powers and Privileges Act, which criminalised any attempt to mislead or obstruct Parliament or its committees.
It also accused him of breaching the Parliamentary Code of Conduct, which demanded honesty, integrity and transparency from all MPs.
“It is simply unacceptable for a sitting minister to evade accountability while surrounded by allegations of corruption, links to criminal syndicates and efforts to shield politically connected individuals from scrutiny.
“South Africans deserve a police service that is insulated from political meddling and led by individuals worthy of public trust. Minister Mchunu must account for his contradictions and face the consequences of misleading Parliament,” said the DA.
It questioned why President Cyril Ramaphosa had not said anything about the allegations, saying his silence in the face of the growing scandal was indefensible.
The party reiterated that the president had remained silent on Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane over allegations around the Sector Education and Training Authorities. It has also opened fraud charges against Nkabane for allegedly misleading Parliament.
There is also a case against Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simalene over the VBS scandal.
“This continued inaction raises alarming questions about the president’s willingness to confront corruption and protect the credibility of his government,” the party said.
Ramaphosa’s media team issued an alert on Thursday saying that the president would address the nation on Sunday night on national security matters.
“President Ramaphosa has been seized with this matter in recent days and will, following various consultations, take the nation into his confidence…,” the alert reads.
INSIDE POLITICS