The Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee has continued hearing testimony from Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.
It is probing allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi that high-ranking police officials have ties to criminal syndicates.
A central issue is the alleged links between Mchunu and businessman Brown Mogotsi, as well as Mogotsi’s alleged association with suspected crime kingpin Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
‘COMRADES NOT ASSOCIATES’
Evidence leader Norman Arendse questioned Mchunu about his affidavit, in which he states that he did not have a personal relationship with Mogotsi. Mchunu clarified that although he had known Mogotsi since 2017, he regarded him as a “comrade, not an associate”. He said his understanding of “associate” does not include people he merely knows.
Mchunu further claimed that Mkhwanazi had misrepresented his statements in Parliament:
“He [Mkhwanazi] says Minister Mchunu said he doesn’t know Brown Mogotsi in Parliament, which I never said. But he tells the public something twisted,” Mchunu told the committee.
He added that Mkhwanazi’s comments in July “complicated matters” and alleged that the remarks were made to “fit his narrative”.
ALLEGED MEETING
Arendse accepted Mchunu’s clarification but noted that a witness had alleged a meeting between Mchunu, Mogotsi and Matlala.
Mchunu denied this: “Never. I’ve never met Matlala alone. I’ve never met him in the company of Mogotsi or in any other capacity. He is not somebody that I know or have spoken to, directly or indirectly.”
Arendse then read Signal and WhatsApp messages allegedly sent by Mogotsi to Mchunu. The minister said he did not respond to them because he “did not understand”.
Meanwhile, Matlala is facing charges for allegedly ordering a hit on his former girlfriend, Tebogo Thobejane, and has taken his bail bid to the Johannesburg High Court.
