Facing internal dissent within his governing coalition, President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa announced on Sunday the suspension of the country's police minister and the formation of a commission to investigate allegations that the minister had protected associates within the criminal underworld.
The allegations against Minister Senzo Mchunu were made by Lt. Gen. Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, the top police commander in KwaZulu-Natal, who claimed that Mchunu had disbanded a unit investigating political killings to shield politicians, prosecutors, police officials, and judiciary members linked to a criminal syndicate responsible for several high-profile murders.
Mchunu, a close ally of Ramaphosa, has denied the allegations. However, the president felt compelled to act swiftly as his administration faced increasing political turmoil that threatened the stability of a fragile coalition formed last year.
The commission will investigate potential infiltration of law enforcement and criminal justice institutions by criminal syndicates, as well as whether senior officials in the justice system have facilitated or benefited from criminal activities. Ramaphosa emphasized the government's commitment to the rule of law, transparency, and accountability, stating, "We are also enhancing the work that is underway to build a South Africa in which all of our people are safe and secure."
The allegations against Mchunu represent a significant challenge to Ramaphosa's ability to maintain cohesion within his government amid rising discontent from the Democratic Alliance, the coalition's second-largest party.
Last month, leaders of the Democratic Alliance rebelled against Ramaphosa after he dismissed a deputy minister from their party for unauthorized overseas travel. They accused the president of shielding members of his own party, the African National Congress (A.N.C.), from accountability while swiftly penalizing Democratic Alliance members for minor infractions.
Democratic Alliance leaders are now threatening to vote against budget proposals from A.N.C. ministries facing corruption allegations. With a budget approval deadline approaching at the end of the month, the government risks being unable to meet its financial obligations, similar to a government shutdown in the United States.
Songezo Zibi, a member of Parliament from the coalition party Rise Mzansi, remarked, "Unless there is a major political intervention, the prognosis is extremely poor," expressing concerns about the current political climate.
The ongoing political instability compounds the challenges facing South Africa on the international stage. Ramaphosa's government is also responding to President Trump's recent announcement of a 30 percent tariff on South African imports, following a meeting in May where Ramaphosa had expressed optimism about reaching a trade agreement.
Political leaders fear that allegations of criminal syndicate infiltration in the police may hinder efforts to attract international investment to a country grappling with high crime rates and well-documented government corruption.
This instability could undermine South Africa's image as a unified government, which was central to Ramaphosa's defense during the Oval Office meeting with Trump, where he countered claims of persecution against white South Africans.
The A.N.C. was compelled to collaborate with other parties after securing only 40 percent of the vote in last year's national election, marking the first time it fell short of an absolute majority since the end of apartheid.
Despite governing together, the A.N.C. and the Democratic Alliance, which garnered 22 percent of the vote, continue to operate as adversaries. Following the allegations against Mchunu, Democratic Alliance leaders filed a criminal complaint against him and have initiated legal challenges against several A.N.C.-supported laws, pushing the government to the brink of collapse.
A.N.C. Secretary General Fikile Mbalula criticized the Democratic Alliance for attempting to hold the government hostage, stating, "When there are differences, they threaten to walk away. That is governance by blackmail."
Conversely, Democratic Alliance officials contend that the A.N.C. behaves as if it can act unilaterally despite needing coalition partners' support. "The D.A. won’t be bullied," asserted Helen Zille, chairwoman of the Democratic Alliance. "We are not going to be treated like a doormat."