(InsideOutNews) Fresh claims have emerged over the role of suspended former Police Minister Senzo Mchunu in a series of investigations involving Crime Intelligence and the Inspector-General of Intelligence (IGI). The claims are contained in a High Court application by suspended IGI Imtiaz Fazel, who is challenging the withdrawal of his security clearance and his subsequent suspension. The application provides new detail about how Fazel became involved in investigations concerning Crime Intelligence under instructions from Mchunu.
Mchunu allegedly instructed IGI to investigate Crime Intelligence
According to Fazel’s court papers, Mchunu instructed him in January 2025 to investigate several allegations relating to Crime Intelligence.
These included alleged irregularities surrounding the procurement of the Veroz Boutique Hotel in Pretoria North, the use of funds from the Secret Services Account, the appointment of a brigadier and questions surrounding security clearances within Crime Intelligence.
The investigation was significant because some of the allegations were also referred by Mchunu’s office to the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC).
Fazel’s account suggests that his office subsequently encountered resistance while investigating the allegations, particularly those relating to the Veroz hotel procurement.
The court application does not constitute a finding against Mchunu or any other person named in the documents. The allegations remain subject to legal challenge and further investigation.
Confidential information and security clearance come under scrutiny
Fazel’s application also raises questions about the handling of sensitive intelligence information and the circumstances surrounding the withdrawal of his security clearance.
According to the documents, the State Security Agency later accused Fazel of the unauthorised disclosure of classified information. Fazel disputes the basis for the action and has questioned the evidence connecting him to alleged leaks.
The issue is particularly significant because the allegations involving Crime Intelligence became part of the wider controversy investigated by the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
The commission has been examining allegations of criminal infiltration, corruption and political interference within South Africa’s criminal justice system. Its final reporting deadline has been extended to 16 November 2026, with the evidence deadline set for 2 October.
New questions over the battle for control of Crime Intelligence
The latest claims add another layer to an already complex dispute involving senior police and intelligence officials. Evidence before the Madlanga Commission has previously included allegations concerning Mchunu’s decision to disband the KwaZulu-Natal Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) and his interactions with individuals linked to the broader Crime Intelligence controversy. Mchunu has denied wrongdoing in relation to various allegations made against him.
The Fazel affidavit now places greater focus on the relationship between the police ministry, Crime Intelligence and the intelligence oversight structures. It also raises questions about whether sensitive investigations and intelligence information were being used as part of competing battles within the security establishment. Fazel’s legal challenge is ongoing, and the President and other respondents had not yet filed their answers when the court application was reported.