News24 | Senzo Mchunu hands over devices to police

Suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.

• Suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu faces an investigation after Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi accused him of criminal ties and meddling in political murder investigations, leading to the Madlanga Commission.
• Police seized Mchunu’s cellphone, tablet, state laptop, and two unused phones on Thursday.
• Mchunu believes the investigation is related to his 31 December 2024 letter requesting the disbandment of the KwaZulu-Natal Political Killings Task Team.

Suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu is cooperating with police in an ongoing investigation and has handed over his personal devices to authorities.

“As part of ongoing investigations, the police confirm that [Senzo] Mchunu has cooperated with a search-and-seizure warrant and that certain devices have been seized for further investigations,” said police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe.

She said that police would “not provide further comment”.

Mchunu has been accused of having ties to criminal gangs and of meddling in police investigations into politically motivated murders by KwaZulu-Natal top cop Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, which led to the establishment of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.

Mchunu’s spokesperson, Sthembiso Mshengu, said the suspended minister was not formally informed about the specific nature of the investigation when his devices were seized on Thursday.

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However, he believes it is partly related to accusations of defeating the ends of justice made by Mkhwanazi.

Specifically, he believes the investigation concerns a ministerial letter issued on 31 December 2024 to national police commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, requesting the disbanding of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) in KZN.

“If the issuing was defeating the ends of justice, let that be ventilated in a court of law, not in the public, where [Mkhwanazi] gets to accuse the minister of things that he has not backed up with evidence,” said Mshengu.

The devices handed over included Mchunu’s day-to-day cellphone and tablet, as well as a state-issued laptop, and two unused cellphones “lying in a cupboard”.

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“It’s very unfortunate that you accuse first and then you investigate,” Mshengu told News24.

“We do not know what else they will come for. They will probably want to take documents from his home.”

When asked what contents on the devices may interest the police, Mshengu said the invasiveness had made Mchunu feel uncomfortable, but he understood that the police were following due process.

“[Mchunu] is a minister of Cabinet, he has contacts from the president to everyone else. He converses with every person that he comes across. There will be documents, emails, and pictures. Those things are for his personal use in his political and personal life.

“You don’t just give your phone to any other stranger. It’s not a good feeling, [but] if there is a matter that you are suspected of wrongdoing, your gadgets must be part of the investigation.”

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Mchunu maintains his innocence and has expressed confidence that the judicial process will vindicate him.

“At the end of the day, the court will have to ventilate and prove the minister did indeed stand in the way of justice. We really do not believe that,” his spokesperson said.

In an official statement, Mshengu asserted Mchunu’s innocence.

“Mr Mchunu has maintained that he has nothing to hide and welcomes any lawful investigation aimed at clarifying facts and upholding the integrity of public office. He remains confident that due process will confirm [that] his actions have been ethical, lawful, and consistent with his duties as a member of the executive.”