By Celani Sikhakhane
- Senzo Mchunu says he asked provincial police bosses in May why known drug dealers had not been arrested after they handed him a report with their full names.
- The Madlanga Commission preliminary report has cleared Mchunu, and he will appear before the inquiry later this month.
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu says he is the one who pushed police to arrest drug dealers long before he was accused of working with cartels.
Mchunu spoke on Monday at his home in eMpangeni in northern KwaZulu-Natal. Church leaders held a prayer for him as he prepares to appear before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
He said he was shocked on 6 July when KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi accused him of working with drug cartels.
Mchunu said that in May, police commissioners from different provinces gave him a report with the names and surnames of drug dealers.
He said he asked them why those people were not arrested.
“Actually I was the one who questioned Provincial Commissioners in May on why drug dealers were not arrested after they presented me with a report that was full of their names and surnames. When I questioned them, none of them responded, instead they put their heads down without any answer. I said that you know these people but why are you not arresting them,” said Mchunu.
He said he could not understand why he was later accused of working with the same criminals he wanted arrested.
Mchunu is due to appear before the Madlanga Commission later this month. He said the commission’s preliminary report has cleared him.
He said if the commission had focused only on the police, it would have finished its work long ago.
Church leaders told Mchunu that he is not alone.
Bishop Ziningi Jali from the Reconciled Christ Church said they will continue to pray for him and his family.
“We are doing this prayer because we want to heal this family. We understand that his kids and wife are going through a lot and they need our prayers. God told us to pray for our authorities and that’s what we are doing as churches,” said Bishop Jali.
Mchunu’s wife, Thembeka, said the family went through deep pain after the accusations.
“We are really grateful for this prayer because we needed it. We have been through a lot after these allegations. We thank churches for being with us in these trying times,” said Thembeka.
Pictured above: Police Minister Senzo Mchunu receives prayers from church leaders ahead of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
Image source: Celani Sikhakhane
