South African President Cyril Ramaphosa placed police minister Senzo Mchunu on immediate leave of absence on Sunday, following accusations by a top police official that he had colluded with a criminal syndicate and interfered in high-profile investigations.

Cyril Ramaphosa has suspended South Africa’s police minister and appointed a commission to investigate a series of explosive allegations against senior law enforcement and judicial officials in a crisis that heaps pressure on the country’s fragile coalition.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu and announced an investigation into allegations that he has been colluding with criminal syndicates.

Seventy-one arrests have been made at protests across the UK against Palestine Action being proscribed a terror group, police have said. Forces in London, Cardiff and Manchester each made a number of arrests on suspicion of terrorism offences.

Police in several British cities on Saturday arrested scores of people for supporting Palestine Action, following a second consecutive weekend of protests over the government's decision to ban the activist group using anti-terror laws.