Ramaphosa to address the nation on police corruption claims

President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation on Sunday evening following recent explosive claims by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who accused senior police officials and politicians of colluding with criminal networks.

The allegations, disclosed at a July 6 media briefing while Ramaphosa attended the BRICS Summit in Brazil, implicate Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, judiciary members, and parliamentarians in obstructing justice and manipulating investigations.

Parliament Portfolio Committee on Police chairman, Ian Cameron called the claims “a direct threat to national security,” noting Mkhwanazi’s rare decision as a high-ranking officer to publicly expose systemic corruption.

Concerns centre on the dissolution of the Political Killings Task Team and a hiring freeze in Crime Intelligence, which critics argue has crippled crime prevention efforts.

Build One South Africa leader, Mmusi Maimane urged Ramaphosa to establish a judicial commission and parliamentary ad hoc committee to investigate the allegations, suspend implicated officials, and fast-track whistleblower protections.

Maimane said the demands follow record-breaking crime statistics, including 5,727 murders and 10,688 rapes reported nationwide in Q2 2025.

Ramaphosa’s 19:00 address comes after days of closed-door consultations, with the presidency acknowledging the allegations’ grave implications for public trust in law enforcement.

The address will be broadcast live as South Africa grapples with what Maimane termed “state capture of justice institutions” undermining national security.