# Mchunu's 472 days on leave expose accountability gap

> Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has been on special leave for 472 days while drawing salary and benefits, costing the state at least R2.7-million in legal fees and raising questions about whether accountability applies equally at the highest levels.
- Title: Mchunu's 472 days on leave expose accountability gap
- Summary: Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has been on special leave for 472 days while drawing salary and benefits, costing the state at least R2.7-million in legal fees…
- Keywords: senzo mchunu, cyril ramaphosa, police minister, special leave, public accountability, wasteful expenditure, south african police service, Daily Maverick
- Source: Daily Maverick — https://dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2026-11-05-cost-of-dithering-ramaphosas-prolonged-retention-of-mchunu-raises-accountability-questions
- Author: Ian Cameron
- Published: 2026-11-05T16:53:03+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: senzo mchunu, cyril ramaphosa, police minister, special leave, public accountability, wasteful expenditure, south african police service, news, politics
## 472 days and counting
Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has been on special leave for 472 days, continuing to receive his salary and benefits with no clear public indication of when the arrangement will end.
## Legal costs mount
The state has incurred about R2.7-million in legal fees associated with the minister's position, adding to the financial burden on government departments already facing resource constraints.
## Police services suffer
Communities across the country raise concerns about inadequate police vehicles, insufficient personnel and lack of victim-friendly rooms at some police stations for survivors of gender-based violence.
## Government proposes accountability
The Minister of Finance announced plans for legislation to hold municipal officials and politicians personally liable for wasting public funds, signalling commitment to strengthening accountability for public resources.
## Double standard emerges
The government cannot credibly demand accountability from municipal officials while leaving a Cabinet minister's prolonged special leave unresolved, raising questions about whether principles apply consistently at the highest levels.
## Full costs remain hidden
The total expenditure may extend beyond legal fees and salary to include security, travel, accommodation and personnel costs for the acting ministerial arrangement, but the full cost has not been made public.
## Auditor-General's warning
In 2022, the Auditor-General reported that 41 national and provincial departments had incurred R1.52-billion in fruitless and wasteful expenditure over the preceding five years, underlining the need for stronger financial controls.
## President must act
The responsibility for resolving the uncertainty surrounding Mchunu's position rests with President Cyril Ramaphosa, who must provide clarity on the rationale, financial implications and steps to bring the matter to a conclusion.

> All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.
## Key takeaway

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has remained on special leave for 472 days while receiving salary and benefits, costing the state R2.7-million in legal fees and undermining the government's stated commitment to accountability for public spending.