KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has doubled down on his claims of political interference and criminal infiltration in the South African Police Service (SAPS), stating in an interview that he has “no regrets” about exposing what he describes as a coordinated effort to dismantle critical investigations.

In a detailed follow-up to his explosive 6 July briefing, Mkhwanazi described how a politically connected civilian, Brown Mogotsi, began sending him confidential SAPS documents and unsolicited messages, including crime scene reports and internal briefings. The commissioner confirmed that Mogotsi had claimed close links to Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, a claim later corroborated by the minister’s chief of staff.

“What concerned me most was how a civilian had access to an unsigned operational report, an official OB (occurrence book) entry, and sensitive internal presentations from crime intelligence,” said Mkhwanazi. “That alone raised serious red flags.”

According to Mkhwanazi, the interference escalated when he was appointed as presiding officer in a misconduct hearing involving senior SAPS official General Khan. After Mkhwanazi cleared Khan of wrongdoing, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) reportedly initiated an investigation based on similar complaints, allegedly without providing new evidence.

Mkhwanazi believes the investigation into Khan and himself may have been retaliatory, driven by unnamed parties within IPID and others linked to national leadership. “If they want to come for me, let them. But I will not be silenced,” he said.

He also confirmed that the controversial disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team was ordered while National Commissioner Masemola was on leave, further fuelling his suspicion that the move was orchestrated to protect politically connected suspects. “Someone whispered to the minister to sign that letter,” Mkhwanazi said. “And they timed it perfectly.”

Ian Cameron: “We Need to Tear This Out by the Roots”

In Parliament on Monday, Portfolio Committee on Police Chairperson Ian Cameron delivered a searing speech following Mkhwanazi’s revelations, calling the situation a national emergency and demanding immediate intervention from President Cyril Ramaphosa.

“This is not just about a few corrupt individuals. It is a systematic weakening of SAPS that enables criminal syndicates to operate with impunity,” Cameron told MPs. “If the commissioner’s allegations are true, they explain why the state has failed to combat violent crime. The police service has been hollowed out from within.”

Cameron announced that the committee had already written to the Speaker of the National Assembly requesting an urgent debate and public inquiry into the allegations. He called for:

• An independent ad hoc commission to investigate the 121 dockets withdrawn from the task team

• A full lifestyle and skills audit of all SAPS senior officers, starting with crime intelligence

• External vetting of appointments to prevent unqualified individuals from being promoted

• Proper funding and autonomy for IPID to pursue corruption cases free from political interference

Cameron cited previous reports showing that over 5,000 SAPS members had been arrested since 2019, with 4,000 still employed by the service. He called this a symptom of failed leadership and a culture of impunity.

“Criminals are wearing uniforms and returning to work as if nothing happened,” he said. “The public cannot trust a police service that protects its own before protecting the people.”

He singled out the case of Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, the businessman at the centre of the SAPS corruption allegations, accusing the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) of failing to act on red flags. “Firearms were seized at an unlicensed location and then returned. That tells you everything about how accountability is sidestepped.”

High-Stakes Standoff

Mkhwanazi’s position has drawn both support and backlash. While civil society organisations and some lawmakers have praised his transparency, elements within SAPS leadership have accused him of breaching protocol and undermining national unity.

Nevertheless, Mkhwanazi remains resolute. “If I have painted a target on my back, so be it. I will not allow the work of my team to be destroyed from behind closed doors,” he said.

He added that the Political Killings Task Team had been working on politically sensitive murder cases in Gauteng that appeared to be covered up or intentionally stalled, and that the withdrawal of dockets coincided with these investigations advancing.

“The moment they realised we were getting close to something, the pressure came. That’s not a coincidence,” he said.

Ramaphosa’s Response Awaited

Although President Ramaphosa has pledged to prioritise the matter upon his return from the BRICS summit, MPs are calling for more than just assurances.

“The President must act decisively,” Cameron insisted. “He must not just protect the integrity of SAPS, but restore it. And that starts with facing these allegations head-on.”

For now, the SAPS leadership remains deeply divided, the task team’s future uncertain, and South Africa’s fight against corruption in its security services teetering on a knife’s edge.

This remains a developing story.