Fight Crime
By Nkosana Khumalo
Durban – Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has publicly backed KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, amid ongoing speculation surrounding an investigation by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID). The minister has dismissed reports suggesting that he filed a complaint against Mkhwanazi, clarifying that IPID’s probe was triggered by an anonymous complaint rather than ministerial intervention.
On 17 March 2025, Minister Mchunu issued a statement addressing recent media reports, particularly an article by News24, which claimed that he had lodged a complaint with IPID regarding Mkhwanazi’s alleged interference in the arrest of a senior Department of Correctional Services official suspected of running a drug cartel at Westville Prison.
Mchunu Dismisses Claims of His Involvement in IPID Probe
Minister Mchunu firmly denied any involvement in requesting an investigation into Mkhwanazi, stating:
“We welcome and fully endorse the statement issued by IPID on this matter. I do want to repeat that I have not laid any complaint against Lieutenant-General Mkhwanazi. I do want to state, however, that we need to intensify our efforts on effective and efficient law enforcement in the Republic of South Africa. The South African Police Service (SAPS) is hard at work all over the country – at Head Office and in the provinces. Lieutenant-General Mkhwanazi, like all the other Provincial Commissioners, is working hard in the fight against crime in KwaZulu-Natal, and that is duly recognised by the Ministry of Police.”
Mchunu’s statement aligns with IPID’s official clarification that the probe into Mkhwanazi was initiated following an anonymous complaint from the public, not at the request of the minister.
IPID spokesperson Lizzy Suping confirmed:
“This investigation is a result of an anonymous complaint from the public. IPID maintains that although it receives complaints and tip-offs from various sources, its investigations remain independent and impartial.”
The correction by IPID has put an end to speculation that the police minister may have played a direct role in Mkhwanazi’s ongoing legal scrutiny.
Allegations Against Mkhwanazi and the IPID Investigation
The controversy began when KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi was accused of interfering in the arrest of Nelly Ndlovu, a senior correctional services official who was allegedly involved in a drug trafficking syndicate operating from Westville Prison.
According to IPID’s findings, in January 2024, SAPS raided Ndlovu’s residence in Empangeni, where officers discovered:
• Five R5 rifle rounds of ammunition
• Twelve pills suspected to be drugs hidden in a dustbin outside the house
Despite this evidence, police officers reportedly received a call from Mkhwanazi instructing them not to open a case against Ndlovu, which allegedly led to the case being dropped.
On 12 March 2025, IPID sent Mkhwanazi a formal notice, requesting that he submit a sworn statement by 19 March 2025 explaining his role in the events. Some members of the security cluster are reportedly pushing for Mkhwanazi to be charged with defeating the ends of justice.
Mkhwanazi Denies Allegations, Claims Smear Campaign
Lieutenant-General Mkhwanazi has strongly denied the allegations, calling them “baseless” and a “deliberate attempt to tarnish his reputation”. He insists that his intervention in the case was lawful and that the arresting officers failed to follow proper procedures, which warranted his decision to delay the case.
Mkhwanazi has also claimed that there are efforts within SAPS to discredit him. Speaking before the Parliament Portfolio Committee on Police, he revealed that a close associate of Minister Mchunu had informed him about an internal plot to damage his reputation.
Ian Cameron, chairperson of the committee, noted that Mkhwanazi has long been a strong opponent of corruption and that his tough stance may have put him at odds with certain figures within SAPS.
“It would not be surprising if Mkhwanazi, whose term ends in a year, was targeted for tackling rogue elements within the police service,” said Cameron.
Public and Political Reactions to the Investigation
The investigation into Mkhwanazi has sparked widespread debate among political figures, law enforcement agencies, and the public.
• ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has expressed public support for Mkhwanazi, stating on social media platform X:
“Count on me as well in support of General Mkhwanazi.”
• KwaZulu-Natal police leadership has dismissed the claims against Mkhwanazi as a malicious attempt to create division within the SAPS. KZN police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda previously said:
“Police refute the allegations and accusations contained in that vile communiqué as baseless, unfounded, and a cheap attempt to create instability within the police machinery, not only in the province but nationally.”
• The Ministry of Police has reinforced its stance that all Provincial Commissioners, including Mkhwanazi, have its full support. Minister Mchunu stated:
“The Ministry supports all Provincial Commissioners in their efforts. At all material times, the Ministry of Police works to uphold the rule of law and will do everything to strengthen mechanisms to fight against crime.”
IPID’s Independence and the Path Forward
IPID has reiterated its independence, stating that it will conduct its investigation into Mkhwanazi without external influence.
Lizzy Suping confirmed:
“As an independent and impartial oversight body, IPID conducts its investigations without external influence, and its decisions regarding cases under its jurisdiction are made independently.”
The investigation is still in its early stages, and no official charges have been brought against Lieutenant-General Mkhwanazi. However, the case has far-reaching implications for SAPS and the leadership of law enforcement in KwaZulu-Natal.
If IPID finds credible evidence of wrongdoing, Mkhwanazi could face criminal charges or disciplinary action, potentially affecting his future within SAPS. Conversely, if IPID clears Mkhwanazi, it could further validate his claims that he is being targeted unfairly due to his efforts to root out corruption in the police force.
