“Where Was Ramaphosa Looking When Mchunu Halted PKTT Investigations” Mathews Phosa

Former ANC treasurer-general and party stalwart Mathews Phosa is pressing President Cyril Ramaphosa to clarify his awareness of political collusion after former police minister Senzo Mchunu disbanded the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).

Phosa, speaking to The Citizen shortly after releasing his political memoir Witness To Power: A Political Memoir, expressed concern about the ongoing relationship between politicians and criminals, which he says continues unchecked while the president remains silent.

“Where was the president looking when this happened? The buck stops with him,” Phosa said, highlighting the need for accountability at the highest level.

Political Corruption in KwaZulu-Natal: PKTT Disbandment Sparks Debate

Phosa accused senior politicians of collaborating with thugs, including killers and looters of state resources, and said the president must answer for his minister’s actions. According to Phosa, the case of the PKTT may only be “the tip of the iceberg,” revealing a broader pattern of political interference.

He pointed to revelations from the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, which showed that Mchunu had halted investigations into political killings in KwaZulu-Natal, protecting those responsible.

“But where was the president looking when this happened? The buck stops with him. He can’t say I didn’t know, where was he looking, he should know?” Phosa added, emphasising that the government must be held accountable.

Mchunu confirmed in his testimony that he ordered the PKTT disbandment, effectively stopping investigations into politically motivated killings in the province.

ANC Ethics and State Corruption: Lessons from History

Phosa warned that politicians working with criminals is a threat not only to governance but to society itself.

“Comrades are collaborating with thieves and thugs. Politicians cannot make common cause with thieves and thugs,” he said, citing examples from state capture under the Gupta family and ongoing looting of public resources.

Reflecting on his tenure as Mpumalanga premier, Phosa stressed ethical leadership and transparency, pointing out the role of tender boards and supply chain committees in preventing corruption.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Only 1 In 5 South Africans Believe Courts Are Free From Corruption, StatsSA Report Reveals

“They steal from there. They would know what is coming up for tenders and then pick it up for themselves, their relatives and friends. That’s where the rot begins,” he said.

Phosa concluded by rejecting the notion that silence in the face of wrongdoing is acceptable, framing his stance as a moral imperative, “The only thing that will stop me from telling the truth and speaking against what is wrong is death.”

He joins a group of ANC stalwarts, including Mavuso Msimang and Thabo Mbeki, who have consistently spoken out against party indiscipline and corruption.

---

For More, Follow SurgeZirc SA On  Facebook, X,  Instagram and Bluesky