Is the SAPS captured? With Jeff Wicks

The gloves are off. In a startling Sunday press conference, KwaZulu-Natal’s provincial police commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, publicly claimed that the heart of the South African Police Service (SAPS) has been captured. Mkhwanazi alleges that Minister Senzo Mchunu has ties to the underworld and, together with deputy national commissioner Shadrack Sibiya and an associate known as Brown Mogotsi, they’ve all played a part in politically interfering in the SAPS. Mkhwanazi alleges Mchunu had an ulterior motive in disbanding a key policing unit, the political killings task team. And a name that prominently features in this intriguing web as well is tender don Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala, whose alleged dodgy dealings have been exposed by the News24 investigations team. Jeff Wicks is the dogged journalist charged with piecing this puzzle together in this edition of The Lead. We stay with policing matters for the rest of the show. Minister Mchunu insists to parliamentarians that the Hawks have an 80% state capture corruption case conviction rate. Finally, the News24 Disinformation Desk says roadblock laws are clear: no traffic cop may keep your licence for not paying a fine on the spot. You can send show host Graeme Raubenheimer a short voice note with your questions or thoughts on this episode to our official The Lead WhatsApp line, that’s: +27 72 562 3179. Mail your comments to thelead@24.com. Editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.