Stay updated with the latest beauty tips, trends, and news from our salon experts. Our blog is your go-to source for all things beauty.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa suspended the country's police minister and announced an investigation into allegations he has been colluding with criminal syndicates.
Ramaphosa's actions on Sunday (local time) follow allegations made by a top police official in the KwaZulu-Natal province, General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, that Senzo Mchunu and deputy police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya had interfered with sensitive investigations.
Ramaphosa said the probe will be headed by a judge, and announced Firoz Cachalia as the acting minister of police.
"The commission will investigate the role of current or former senior officials in certain institutions who may have aided or abetted the alleged criminal activity, failed to act on credible intelligence or internal warnings, or benefited financially or politically from a syndicate's operations," Ramaphosa said during a televised address Sunday.
South African president Cyril Ramaphosa. (Source: Associated Press)
During a press briefing last Sunday, Mkhwanazi also alleged that Mchunu and Sibiya disbanded a crucial crime unit tasked with investigating repeated politically motivated killings in the province after it was revealed that crime syndicates were behind the killings.
He alleged that an investigation by the unit showed that some "politicians, law enforcement, SAPS (South African Police Service), metro police and correctional services, prosecutors, judiciary" were being "controlled by drug cartels and as well as businesspeople".
The morning's headlines in 90 seconds, including a fire at an Auckland chapel, new plan for international students, and a first time Wimbledon winner. (Source: 1News)
The investigation would include some of the country's crime and justice agencies, including the National Prosecuting Authority and the State Security Agency, Ramaphosa said.
General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, head of the police in the KwaZulu-Natal province, claimed Senzo Mchunu and a deputy national commissioner had interfered with sensitive police investigations.
Crime and Justice
Tue, Jul 8
1:33
Most opposition parties on Sunday criticised Ramaphosa for not firing Mchunu instead of placing him on a leave of absence.
"This was an opportunity to take South Africans into confidence and to deal with these issues decisively, instead he calls for a commission of inquiry and expects South Africans to be patient when people are dying on a daily basis," said Nhlamulo Ndhlela, spokesperson of official opposition MK Party.
