The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Thursday laid a charge of fraud against Police Minister Senzo Mchunu at the Cape Town Central Police Station, vowing to submit a formal complaint to Parliament’s Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests.

DA Deputy Chief Whip Baxolile Nodada said this was a criminal offence under both common law and parliamentary legislation.

He said his party was taking firm and urgent action to hold Mchunu accountable for allegedly lying to Parliament, by allegedly making contradictory statements about his relationship with businessman Brown Mogotsi – an individual reportedly linked to serious criminal syndicates and political interference in the police service.

“In March this year, while under oath before the Police Portfolio Committee, Minister Mchunu denied knowing Mogotsi. Yet, in a public statement on 9 July, the Minister admitted that he does in fact know Mogotsi, describing him as ‘a comrade’,” Nodada said.

Nodada said this reversal directly contradicted Mchunu’s earlier denial and raised concerns about whether he deliberately misled Parliament – a criminal act in terms of the Powers, Privileges and Immunities of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures Act.

“It is simply unacceptable for a sitting Minister to evade accountability while surrounded by allegations of corruption, links to criminal syndicates, and efforts to shield politically connected individuals from scrutiny,” he stated.

The party contended that Mchunu committed fraud by knowingly making a false statement with the intent to mislead Parliament, and that he violated the Powers and Privileges Act, which criminalised any attempt to mislead or obstruct Parliament or its committees.

Nodada further indicated that Mchunu breached the Parliamentary Code of Conduct, which demanded “honesty, integrity, and transparency” from all Members of Parliament.

Meanwhile, Mchunu made headlines last week, when KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi made allegations of corruption, political interference, and malfeasance, specifically accusing Mchunu of unilaterally disbanding the Political Killings Task Team and redirecting 121 active investigation dockets to the office of National Deputy Commissioner Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya, where they have allegedly been neutralised.

Nodada pointed out that six days after the explosive revelations by Mkhwanazi, President Cyril Ramaphosa has neither acted against Mchunu nor initiated any credible investigation.

“President Cyril Ramaphosa’s silence in the face of this growing scandal is indefensible. Similarly, Ramaphosa remains silent on the growing ethical cloud over two other members of his Cabinet – Higher Education Minister Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, and Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane – both of whom have been implicated in serious allegations. This continued inaction raises alarming questions about the President’s willingness to confront corruption and protect the credibility of his government,” he said.

Following the explosive allegations, the DA and ActionSA wrote to National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza, calling for an urgent debate in Parliament on corruption within the Saps.

Didiza argued that holding a Parliamentary debate on the allegations made by Mkhwanazi would not be appropriate, as they remain unsubstantiated.

Instead, Didiza has assigned the portfolio committees on Police; and Justice and Constitutional Development; and the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence to urgently consider the explosive allegations made by Mkhwanazi, within the scope of their mandates.