Mchunu's classification of Phala Phala report dodgy

KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has reignited political and institutional tensions within South Africa's security cluster by questioning Police Minister Senzo Mchunu's decision to classify the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) report on the Phala Phala farm scandal as "top secret."

Testifying before Parliament's Ad Hoc Committee on 8 October 2025, Mkhwanazi said the classification of the report - which examines alleged misconduct by police officers in handling the Phala Phala investigation - raises serious concerns about transparency, accountability, and potential political interference in law enforcement.

"When you hear a Minister of Police say, 'I have a report from IPID that is classified,' you need to ask yourself a question - IPID is not an intelligence structure, and yet you classified a report you don't want to release," Mkhwanazi told lawmakers.

He went further, questioning how and why the document reached the minister and was classified without due vetting.

"These are things that need to be checked because this is where the system of government fails," he said. "If a minister can simply decide to classify a report without proper clearance, then laws meant to protect citizens can be manipulated."

The remarks have deepened scrutiny over how the Phala Phala affair - which has dogged President Cyril Ramaphosa since 2020 - has been managed by the state. The scandal revolves around the theft of large sums of U.S. dollars hidden in furniture at Ramaphosa's Limpopo game farm. The money allegedly came from Sudanese businessman Hazim Mustafa, who claims he paid US$580,000 for buffaloes that were never collected.

The IPID report, completed in October 2023, probed whether senior police officers obstructed justice, intimidated suspects, or acted outside their mandate. In early 2025, Mchunu classified the report as top secret, claiming the decision was necessary to protect witnesses.

Opposition parties, however, say the move shields Ramaphosa from accountability. The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), and African Transformation Movement (ATM) have all demanded the report's release, with some threatening Constitutional Court action.

Mkhwanazi's testimony comes amid his own dispute with Mchunu, dating back to earlier allegations of political meddling and criminal syndicates infiltrating the South African Police Service (SAPS). He told the committee that Mchunu's chief of staff, Cedric Nkabinde, had informed him of irregular activities involving former IPID head Robert McBride and forensic investigator Paul O'Sullivan, suggesting a "web of influence" compromising the integrity of investigations.

He also accused Mchunu of destroying evidence in a separate case, citing information he said came from Nkabinde, and called for full investigations into trust funds allegedly linked to the minister.

The long-running Phala Phala case remains unresolved, with the trial over the 2020 burglary postponed to September 2025. The affair has become a lightning rod for opposition criticism of Ramaphosa's leadership and alleged double standards in anti-corruption enforcement.

Public response to Mkhwanazi's testimony has been intense. The hashtag #HandsOffMkhwanazi trended across social media, with many South Africans praising his defiance and commitment to transparency.

Meanwhile, the Ad Hoc Committee, chaired by ANC MP Soviet Lekganyane, continues to hear testimony from senior law enforcement figures, including National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola, before compiling its final report at the end of October 2025.

In parallel, the Madlanga Commission, which is probing related allegations of political interference in law enforcement, is set to resume its hearings next week—ensuring that the Phala Phala saga remains firmly in the national spotlight.