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By Diana Chiyangwa
TalkAfrica can confirm that claims of Public Protector Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka clearing Police Minister Senzo Mchunu of corruption allegations are false.
An X (formerly Twitter) post claiming that the Public Protector Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka has cleared Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on allegations of corruption is FALSE.
On 10 July 2025, an X user @joy_zelda wrote, “BREAKING NEWS The Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka has cleared Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu of allegations of corruption”.
On 10 July 2025, African Transformation Movement (ATM) Member of Parliament, Vuyo Zungula posted a letter written by the Public Protector, Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka, on his X account. He wrote, “The Public Protector confirms they have initiated an investigation into Minister Mchunu.”
In a letter dated 10 July 2025 and addressed to Zungula, Advocate Gcaleka indicated on point 3 that “In line with section 3 (1) EMEA, which provides that the Public Protector must investigate any alleged breach of codes of ethics on receipt of a complaint contemplated in section 4, you are hereby advised that the Public Protector has initiated an investigation into the allegations that you have raised”.
IOL and the Sunday World websites also published the story on 11 July 2025.
The African Transformation Movement (ATM) raised concerns after the KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, alleged that the Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, was affiliated with people who are of interest in politically influenced killings.
Speaking at a news conference on July 6, Mkhwanazi said the systemic corruption rises to the country’s Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu, whom he accused of disbanding a task force set up to investigate political killings in KZN to protect his shady associates.
After the press briefing, African Transformation Movement leader in Parliament, Vuyo Zungula, lodged the complaint with the Office of the Public Protector on 8 July 2025. Zungula posted on his X account that “We have laid a complaint with the Public Protector to investigate Minister Mchunu on the allegations made by Lt General Mkhwanazi. We need to push for accountability on all fronts.”
In response to the allegations, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa briefed the nation on 13 July 2025. In his speech, President Ramaphosa said, “To address these allegations and the implications of these allegations, I am establishing a judicial commission of inquiry chaired by Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga. Justice Madlanga will be assisted by Advocate Sesi Baloyi SC and Advocate Sandile Khumalo SC”.
He further added that” In order for the Commission to execute its functions effectively, I have decided to put the Minister of Police, Mr Senzo Mchunu, on a leave of absence with immediate effect. The Minister has undertaken to give his full cooperation to the Commission to enable it to do its work. I have decided to appoint Professor Firoz Cachalia as acting Minister of Police”.
On Tuesday, 15 July 2025, President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe, as Acting Minister of Police. Minister Mantashe will serve in this capacity until Prof Firoz Cachalia, who will retire from his position at the University of the Witwatersrand at the end of this month, assumes his position at the start of August.
TalkAfrica examined the X post claiming that the Public Protector, Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka, has not cleared Police Minister Senzo Mchunu of allegations of corruption and found it FALSE.
This fact-check was produced by TalkAfrica as part of the African Fact-Checking Alliance’s (AFCA) incubation programme. It was produced with peer-mentorship from Code for Africa’s fact-checking initiative, PesaCheck, with financial support from Norway. AFCA mentorship respects the journalistic independence of the researchers, offering access to advanced techniques and tools. Editorial decision-making remains with Name of Newsroom. Want to learn more? Visit: https://factcheck.africa/
