Masemola ordered raids on Thursday to destroy incriminating evidence, says Mchunu’s Chief of Staff

By Johnathan Paoli

Suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s chief of staff, Cedrick Nkabinde, has accused National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola and KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi of intimidation, harassment, and attempts to destroy crucial evidence.

Nkabinde said a search and seizure operation targeting him and Mchunu focused on mobile phones and electronic devices, allegedly to delete evidence that could disprove Mkhwanazi’s claims.

Addressing journalists at a tense media briefing in Sandton on Thursday, Nkabinde said he and his family had been subjected to unlawful raids by heavily armed officers, allegedly acting on Masemola’s instructions.

“Should anything happen to me, National Commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola will be responsible,” he declared.

He described a dramatic incident in which his brother was allegedly mistaken for him during a raid at his flat.

Nkabinde said about 15 to 20 police officers, wearing balaclavas and armed with high-calibre rifles, conducted the search and seizure