Madlanga Commission: Witness E Alleges Senzo Mchunu Pressured Him To Lie And Fabricate Evidence

Allegations of political interference and manipulation of justice took centre stage at the Madlanga Commission this week, as a key witness delivered testimony that has hit hard on suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu.

Witness E told the commission that suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu actively pressured him to provide false information, helped fabricate statements, and attempted to redirect blame to senior police officials in a bid to shield himself from scrutiny.

The claims, presented under oath, have intensified concerns about abuse of power at the highest levels of government and placed renewed focus on the credibility of sworn evidence before the commission.

Witness E Details Alleged Pressure to Lie at Madlanga Commission

In testimony heard on Monday, Witness E said Mchunu was not merely misleading the public but was deliberately engineering a false narrative aimed at implicating crime intelligence boss Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo.

According to the witness, Mchunu persistently contacted him and urged him to repeat what he described as a lie — a version of events crafted to deflect attention from Mchunu’s own conduct and shift responsibility onto Khumalo.

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Witness E described the contact as frequent, direct and insistent.

“He consistently called him and told him that there is a statement prepared for me to present at the commission,” he said.

Phone records submitted to the commission reportedly support a pattern of repeated communication, contradicting Mchunu’s earlier claims that he had no improper engagement with the witness. The evidence suggested an effort to script false statements that could later be used to bolster Mchunu’s allegations under oath.

Fabricated Allegations and Attempts to Shift Blame

At the centre of the dispute are sworn statements made by Mchunu in which he accused Khumalo of infiltrating the police and justice system through rogue intelligence operations.

Witness E told the commission those allegations were knowingly false and deliberately constructed to create a scapegoat. He testified that Mchunu instructed him on who to implicate and what details to emphasise, presenting the deception as necessary for his political and legal survival.

The commission also heard that Mchunu’s alleged actions extended beyond witness interference. Witness E described what he characterised as a broader pattern of manipulation involving intelligence structures, internal police processes and the strategic use of corruption claims to neutralise perceived threats.

If proven, the conduct would amount to direct interference in the justice system by a sitting cabinet minister.

Mchunu Rejects Corruption Claims Under Oath

The testimony sharply contradicts Mchunu’s public posture and his evidence before the commission. He has consistently denied infiltrating or corrupting the police and justice system, presenting himself as a whistleblower acting in defence of the rule of law.

Under oath, Mchunu rejected allegations of dishonesty and insisted his statements were truthful and justified.

“I have never been accused of corruption, not once,” Mchunu told the commission at the start of his testimony, adding that “This is the first time that I get accused of such, as alleged particularly on July 6”.

Witness E’s evidence directly challenges that account, portraying Mchunu as a central figure in the misconduct he has publicly condemned. As proceedings continue, the commission must now assess deeply conflicting versions of events with far-reaching consequences for public trust and accountability.

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