Parliament's parallel committee splits over his directive as its 11 September deadline runs down (4 September 2026)
The National Assembly's Ad Hoc Committee to Investigate Allegations made by Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has been examining the same July 2025 allegations as this commission, and must report to the House by 11 September 2026 under the revival the Speaker granted it in terms of Assembly Rule 253(6)(c). Deliberating its draft report on Thursday 4 September 2026, the committee could not agree on whether Mchunu's 31 December 2024 directive was connected to shielding organised crime. Per Eyewitness News, Patriotic Alliance MP Ashley Sauls said: 'Therefore, we as the committee are able to say we don't see any direct link between the directive and the protection of criminal elements.' EFF MP Leigh-Ann Mathys objected: 'We can't even make a finding that there was criminal infiltration, even if there was evidence before us.' The MK Party submitted that the committee should find that Mchunu misrepresented to Parliament the extent of his consultation with President Cyril Ramaphosa before issuing the directive. The standing draft findings, reported when the preliminary report first circulated in July 2026, are that Mchunu faces unresolved executive accountability and integrity concerns over the directive, but that the evidence does not establish that he entered a corrupt agreement or acted on the instruction of a criminal cartel. Earlier, per The Citizen, the committee's evidence leaders had reported that he issued the directive without consulting the President, the National Commissioner, the National Prosecuting Authority or the Civilian Secretariat for Police, and that Ramaphosa did not approve and was not consulted. A draft is not an adopted report and a parliamentary finding is not a criminal verdict. Mchunu denies wrongdoing and is presumed innocent.
Accused of a second attempt to steer a witness, and his denial (21 to 24 August 2026)
On Day 164 Lieutenant-Colonel Deenadayalan Govender of the Hawks told the commission that Mavuso Ntandane, described as close to Mchunu, repeatedly pressed him to give evidence implicating KwaZulu-Natal provincial commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi in police shootings, and that at a meeting the day before his testimony Ntandane telephoned Mchunu and handed him the phone. Govender said the minister told him 'this is a very nice country; we must not let anyone ruin this country' and urged him to tell the commission he had acted on Mkhwanazi's instructions. Mchunu has rejected the account. Per the Daily Maverick he said: 'The allegation is made without any evidence and I reject it with the contempt it deserves', characterising the claim as opportunistic. Reports on 24 August 2026 carried a further denial that he had interfered with Govender's evidence. The allegation is untested, the denial is on the record, and Mchunu is presumed innocent.
Alleged disbanding of the Political Killings Task Team
Evidence before the commission alleges that Mchunu issued a directive disbanding the Political Killings Task Team; witnesses including Mkhwanazi alleged the move was intended to shield politically connected suspects. Mchunu disputes that characterisation of his actions.
Allegation he bypassed the National Commissioner
Senior officers alleged Mchunu acted without consulting National Commissioner Fannie Masemola, and that operational control of the police rests with the National Commissioner. This is an allegation tested at the inquiry, not a finding.
Placed on special leave pending the inquiry
On 13 July 2025 President Ramaphosa placed Mchunu on leave pending the commission, with Professor Firoz Cachalia later appointed acting minister. The leave is a precautionary measure, not a finding of guilt.
His denials and defence
Mchunu rejected allegations linking him to criminal cartels, said his engagements with police structures were always lawful and procedural, and pointed to an earlier work-study report that had recommended reorganising the task team - arguing the change had a documented rationale.
