<\/p>\n
President Cyril Ramaphosa has defended his decision to establish a commission of inquiry to look into the recent explosive allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General <\/span>Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.<\/p>\n Tabling the budget of the Presidency in the National Assembly on Wednesday, Ramaphosa said Mkhwanazi alleged that Police Minister Senzo Mchunu had interfered with sensitive police investigations and colluded with business people, including a murder accused, to disband the Political Killings Task Team based in KwaZulu-Natal.<\/p>\n \u201cThese allegations are serious. They are also untested,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is, therefore, necessary that we establish the facts through an independent, credible, and thorough process so that we can ensure accountability and safeguard public confidence in the police service,\u201d the president said.<\/p>\n Ramaphosa announced the commission of inquiry to be led by Judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga and has since placed Mchunu on special leave and appointed Wits professor Firoz Cachalia as acting police minister starting at the beginning of August.<\/p>\n There has been criticism to his decision to appoint the commission, with some claiming their recommendations were not implemented and were used to shield certain individuals.<\/p>\n Ramaphosa said it was strange that some people have voiced strong opposition to the establishment of the commission of inquiry into Mkhwanazi\u2019s allegations.<\/p>\n \u201cSome have said that I should take immediate punitive steps against the minister on the basis of untested allegations. Not only would this be unfair, but it would create a dangerous precedent. The commission should be allowed to do its work.\u201d<\/p>\n He also lashed out at what those he said resurrected \u201cthe tired line\u201d that the commissions and panels have not produced any meaningful results.<\/p>\n \u201cThis view is wrong. It is not borne out by evidence.\u201d<\/p>\n Ramaphosa said the integrity and credibility of the criminal justice system was vital to their ongoing efforts to combat crime and corruption.<\/p>\n \u201cWe must, therefore, be concerned when reports emerge and allegations are made that threaten to undermine the stability and effectiveness of these institutions.\u201d<\/p>\n He also said he recently established two commissions of inquiry to interrogate aspects of the criminal justice system.<\/p>\n One of the recent commissions, to be chaired by former justice Sisi Khampepe, will investigate allegations of undue interference in the investigation and prosecution of apartheid-era crimes.<\/p>\n \u201cNot only is the commission necessary to ensure justice for the victims of apartheid-era crimes and their families, but it will provide valuable lessons as we strengthen our efforts to ensure accountability now and into the future.\u201d<\/p>\n Ramaphosa stated that the commission on the South African Revenue Service (SARS), which was chaired by Judge Robert Nugent, resulted in a comprehensive overhaul of SARS\u2019 leadership, governance structures, and operational capacity.<\/p>\n \u201cThis has enabled SARS to significantly increase revenue collection, improve compliance, and recover substantial sums of unpaid tax.\u201d<\/p>\n The Commission of Inquiry into the Public Investment Corporation, chaired by Judge Lex Mpati, had exposed serious governance failures and led to far reaching institutional reforms.<\/p>\n \u201cThese commissions resulted in disciplinary actions and the cancellation of unlawful contracts.\u201d<\/p>\n Ramaphosa further said the implementation of the recommendations of the High-Level Panel on the State Security Agency (SSA) contributed significantly to SSA\u2019s stabilisation and recovery, improved oversight and accountability, and the structural reforms contained in the General Intelligence Laws Amendment Act.<\/p>\n He added that the government has taken steps to ensure better intelligence coordination, capacitating public order policing, strengthening community policing forums, and streamlining the functioning of the National Security Council after the recommendations of the expert panel on the 2021 civil unrest.<\/p>\n The government has undertaken major reforms based on the State Capture Commission, popularly known as the Zondo Commission, which was presented to the president in the three years since the final report.<\/p>\n \u201cEight new laws have been enacted to strengthen our anti-corruption institutions, enhance the procurement system, reform the intelligence services, and improve corporate accountability and public administration.\u201d<\/p>\n He said the value of assets linked to State Capture that have been recovered by the state stood at nearly R11 billion by March 2025, and another R10.6 billion is currently frozen, awaiting the outcome of cases in court.<\/p>\n Ramaphosa said each of the commissions and panels unearthed information and made findings that were critical to understanding the events that took place.<\/p>\n \u201cThey were essential in ensuring accountability and providing recommendations on strengthening our institutions and processes.<\/p>\n \u201cThese commissions and panels show a government that takes responsibility, that is committed to transparency and accountability, that does not fear independent scrutiny, and that is determined to take corrective action where lapses have taken place.\u201d <\/p>\n mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" President Cyril Ramaphosa has defended his decision to establish a commission of inquiry to look into the recent explosive allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Tabling the budget of the Presidency in the National Assembly on Wednesday, Ramaphosa said Mkhwanazi alleged that Police Minister Senzo Mchunu had interfered with sensitive police investigations […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[2157,7334,12715,11393,356,409,426,3932],"class_list":{"0":"post-245904","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-politics","7":"tag-allegations","8":"tag-explosive","9":"tag-firm","10":"tag-inquiry","11":"tag-mchunu","12":"tag-minister","13":"tag-ramaphosa","14":"tag-stands"},"yoast_head":"\n