President Cyril Ramaphosa has defended his decision to place police minister, Senzo Mchunu on special leave instead of dismissing him.

He told lawmakers during his budget vote in the National Assembly that firing the minister would be unfair.

Mchunu stands accused of colluding with business people, including a murder accused, to disband the Political Killings Task Team based in KwaZulu-Natal.

He is alleged to having links to a criminal syndicate. Mchunu has denied the allegations.

A commission of inquiry has since been set up to probe the damning allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.