Witness E reveals Mchunu's pressure to fabricate evidence at Madlanga Commission

Having denied any wrongdoing, corruption, or infiltration, suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu is now facing serious allegations of fabricating false statements and pressuring Witness E to lie in his favour.

These revelations have sent shockwaves through the Madlanga Commission, raising significant concerns about the integrity of South Africa’s justice system.

In explosive testimony on Monday, Witness E revealed that Mchunu was not merely misleading the public; he was actively constructing a false narrative aimed at implicating crime intelligence boss Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo.

According to the witness, Mchunu persistently contacted him, urging him to repeat what he described as a lie, a version of events designed to deflect attention from Mchunu’s conduct and redirect blame onto Khumalo.

“He consistently called me and told me that there is a statement prepared for me to present at the commission,” Witness E stated.

Phone records submitted to the commission reportedly corroborate a pattern of repeated contact, undermining Mchunu’s previous claims that he had no improper engagement with the witness.

The testimony suggested a deliberate effort to script false statements that could later be used to legitimise Mchunu’s accusations under oath. At the heart of the matter are sworn statements made by Mchunu, in which he accused Khumalo of infiltrating the police and justice system through rogue intelligence operations. Witness E testified that those allegations were knowingly false and constructed to create a scapegoat.

“He instructed me on whom to implicate and what details to emphasise, framing the deception as necessary for his political and legal survival,” Witness E added.

The commission heard that Mchunu’s alleged conduct extended beyond witness tampering.

Witness E described a broader pattern of manipulation involving intelligence structures, internal police processes, and the weaponisation of corruption claims to neutralise perceived threats.

If proven, these actions would indicate active interference in the justice system by a sitting cabinet minister. These revelations starkly contrast Mchunu’s public posture. The minister has repeatedly denied infiltrating or corrupting the police and justice system, portraying himself as a whistleblower acting in defence of the rule of law.

Under oath, Mchunu rejected allegations of dishonesty, insisting that his statements were truthful and necessary.

“I have never been accused of corruption, not once,” he stated

“This is the first time that I have been accused of such, as alleged particularly on July 6," he further explained.

SUNDAY TRIBUNE