In a move that underscores the deep fissures and simmering tensions within the ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC) has granted suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu special leave from his duties on the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Working Committee (NWC). The decision, taken during a tense meeting at Luthuli House on Tuesday, represents a sharp reversal from the party’s initial stance and highlights the delicate balancing act the ANC is performing as it navigates a high-stakes corruption scandal.
The approval of special leave effectively sidelines Mchunu from the party’s highest decision-making bodies, aligning his status within the ANC with his suspension from the Cabinet. This follows President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decisive move in July 2025 to place Mchunu on administrative leave from his ministerial post, pending the outcome of several independent investigations.
A Scandal of the Highest Order
Mchunu’s fall from grace stems from grave allegations of abusing his office as Police Minister. He stands accused of systematically interfering in sensitive police investigations, particularly those involving political assassinations in KwaZulu-Natal and probes into high-level organized crime figures. It is alleged that Mchunu used his authority to redirect, stall, or bury investigations to shield political allies and their alleged associates in the criminal underworld. The minister has consistently and vehemently denied all accusations.
These allegations are now the central focus of the ongoing Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, established by President Ramaphosa to uncover the truth behind what has been dubbed the “Blue Light Mafia” scandal, a reference to the abuse of state security resources.
A Day of Political Whiplash
Tuesday’s decision came after a dramatic internal debate that exposed clear factional divides. Initially, a powerful bloc within the NEC, arguing for the principle of “innocent until proven guilty,” resisted calls for Mchunu’s suspension from party duties. They contended that as the allegations pertained to his government role, the party structures should remain separate.
However, this position became untenable as the day progressed. Facing a blistering backlash from alliance partners, civil society, and a relentless outcry on social media, the party’s top officials reconvened. The fear of irreversible damage to the ANC’s credibility ahead of crucial local government elections ultimately forced a compromise.
“The ANC has reached a decision to comrade Senzo Mchunu being granted special leave from his activities in the NEC and NWC,” a senior party official stated anonymously due to the sensitivity of the matter. “This is to allow the legal processes and the work of the Madlanga Commission to proceed without any perceived interference or cloud. He remains a member of the ANC and the NEC, and his membership will be reviewed upon the conclusion of these processes.”
Public Pressure and the Shadow of the Future
The party’s nuanced language—”special leave” rather than suspension—is a classic political maneuver, allowing Mchunu a dignified exit without a formal admission of guilt. Yet, it does little to quell the public demand for accountability.
On social media platforms, the hashtag #FireMchunu has trended consistently, with citizens and opposition parties lambasting the ANC for what they perceive as shielding one of its own. The Democratic Alliance and Economic Freedom Fighters have both called for his immediate arrest and full dismissal.
The ANC’s final decision is a clear attempt to placate a furious public and reassure international investors of stability, while simultaneously avoiding a full-scale internal war. It temporarily removes a deeply controversial figure from the spotlight but sets a precarious precedent. The party is now inextricably linked to the findings of the Madlanga Commission. Should it implicate Mchunu further, the ANC will have no choice but to cut him loose entirely. For now, a powerful minister hangs in the balance, and the nation watches, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
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