Mchunu must account to Parly and address political interference claims - Cameron

CAPE TOWN - Police portfolio committee chairperson, Ian Cameron, said that Police Minister Senzo Mchunu would have to account to Parliament and address allegations of political interference in criminal cases involving connected individuals.

Cameron has also warned that lying to Parliament was a criminal offence, after Mchunu denied having any knowledge of alleged crime syndicate member, Oupa "Brown" Mogotsi.

This, despite claims to the contrary presented by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

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Cameron was addressing a safety and security parliamentary cluster briefing in Parliament on Monday, where he called for urgent intervention to restore trust in the police.

Cameron said that the revelations made by Mkhwanazi at a press briefing on Sunday explained why criminality could not be successfully dealt with in the country.

He also said that allegations made by Mkhwanazi about Minister Mchunu also had to be interrogated.

Cameron said that Mchunu must clarify whether he had any connections with certain individuals after previously denying this.

"I went and watched the clips again after yesterday and it's spot on. That's exactly what was said, there is no affiliation. The minister would need to account for that, we need to have that discussion. It's important to understand that if it were to be indicated that the minister or whoever else lied to Parliament, it’s a criminal offence."

Cameron also wants an independent commission of inquiry to get to the bottom of the fraud and corruption in the criminal justice system.