President Cyril Ramaphosa places Senzo Mchunu on special leave

South Africa’s president placed the nation’s police minister, who has been accused of sabotaging a probe into political killings in the crime-ridden country, on leave.

Listen/read: SAPS crisis: Can Ramaphosa restore trust in law enforcement?

The suspension of Senzo Mchunu signals a push for accountability by President Cyril Ramaphosa, who’s faced growing criticism by the opposition and parties within his coalition government for failing to act against officials accused of wrongdoing.

It also shows an intent to restore public trust in the nation’s law-enforcement agencies and fulfil an election pledge to clamp down on state corruption.

He also set up a commission to investigate graft in the police that will be headed up by acting Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, Ramaphosa said in a televised address on Sunday.

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