By: Saneliso Mlambo
Fresh testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has raised new questions about suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu’s alleged involvement in sensitive police investigations.
IDAC prosecutor Drushantha Ramsamy testified on Wednesday that Mchunu appeared to have a particular interest in an investigation into the alleged misuse of Crime Intelligence secret funds, including the planned purchase of two forklifts worth more than R700,000.
Ramsamy is giving evidence about an Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) probe into allegations that members of the KwaZulu-Natal Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) abused the Crime Intelligence Secret Services account. The alleged purchase of the two forklifts has become one of the key issues under investigation.
The prosecutor told the commission that she became concerned after suspended IDAC Chief Investigator Dylan Perumal allegedly consulted a witness in the forklift investigation without her knowledge. She said Perumal later informed her that the witness had been flown to the Eastern Cape to meet him, allegedly by Mchunu.
Ramsamy testified that she initially believed Mchunu was simply receiving updates on IDAC’s wider investigation into Crime Intelligence. However, she said it later appeared that the minister had a specific interest in the investigation into the forklift procurement.
“It seemed strange to me that Minister Mchunu would be involved in this investigation, but Mr Perumal did not offer any further details regarding Minister Mchunu’s involvement,” Ramsamy told the commission. She added that Perumal only told her the witness was relevant to the investigation into the alleged procurement of the forklifts.
Ramsamy further testified that she later became aware that General Jacobs had informed Mr Raphesu that the Inspectorate was required to update Mchunu every 10 days on complaints made by Mr Adams. She said this made it appear that the minister’s involvement extended beyond merely receiving updates from the Inspectorate.
The Madlanga Commission continues to hear evidence, with IDAC prosecutor Drushantha Ramsamy still on the witness stand giving testimony on allegations of corruption, political interference and misconduct within South Africa’s policing and intelligence structures.