‘They are targeting Mchunu’ because he wants to be ANC president

By Celani Sikhakhane

• Themba Mthembu, the South African Communist Party’s KwaZulu-Natal secretary, says allegations against police minister Senzo Mchunu are a smear campaign.

• Mthembu says Mchunu’s name is coming up in ANC branches for the party’s presidential race, ahead of upcoming elective conferences.

Themba Mthembu, the South African Communist Party (SACP) secretary in KwaZulu-Natal, says the allegations against police minister Senzo Mchunu at the Madlanga Commission are a smear campaign to stop him running for ANC president.

Mthembu has been a loyal ally of Mchunu since 2015, when Mchunu ran for ANC chairperson in KwaZulu-Natal.

He questions how Mchunu could have done everything he is accused of in just five months in office.

“Tell me what Mchunu has to do with eKurhuleni Metro? How come Mchunu could do all of these things in a space of five months in office? That is why I believe that this is a smear campaign against him,” said Mthembu.

He said most of the allegations date back to 2011, when Mchunu was still in KwaZulu-Natal.

Mchunu is expected to return to the Madlanga Commission for a second appearance. His legal team, led by Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, wants to question KZN Police Commissioner Lt-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi over allegations he made against Mchunu on 6 July last year.

Mthembu said it has become a trend in politics that whenever elective conferences approach, those tipped for key positions become targets of smear campaigns. He said he and Professor Blade Nzimande have been accused of being apartheid spies or former IFP members before SACP elective conferences.

“We have answered those allegations many times and they kept on coming up when the elective conferences are coming,” said Mthembu.

Mchunu’s name is coming up in many ANC branches for the party’s presidential race. Scrolla.Africa understood that President Cyril Ramaphosa wants Mchunu as his ally to succeed him. Others claim that businessman Patrice Motsepe’s forces want Mchunu as his deputy president.

Mchunu was tipped to become ANC secretary general in 2017 but lost to Ace Magashule.

Pictured above: SACP KwaZulu-Natal secretary Themba Mthembu.

Image source: SACP/Facebook