KZN Police Chief Mkhwanazi Denies Political Agenda, Urges Whistleblower Safety

KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has reassured MPs that his decision to speak out about corruption in the criminal justice system is not politically motivated.

Testifying for the second day before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee, which investigates national security concerns, Mkhwanazi addressed whether he believed he was being used for political purposes.

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“I was happy with the citizens making noise. Political parties are welcome to make noise; they are members of society as well. But to be used as a face in politics was a problem for me. Since then, what has happened is that people have started saying ‘Mkhwanazi for president’.

“I came here yesterday and I said it … I’m a policeman and I know how to be a law enforcement officer, not a politician,” he said.

The committee was established to probe allegations of criminal infiltration, corruption, and political interference in the justice system, issues Mkhwanazi initially raised in July.

Police Corruption and Sensitive Information Concerns

Mkhwanazi also highlighted troubling issues within the police force. “Bad things are happening in our organisation. Few individuals, sharing info with Sibiya in CI, can only be CI officials who say that,” he told MPs.

He addressed the matter of MPs sharing classified information with journalists, stressing that while he is not targeting journalists, they must adhere to the law.

“We use counter-intelligence for anything that is a threat to safety. So if a journalist breaks the law, it must be countered. If a journalist is a recipient of criminality for spreading sensitive info, and must be held accountable together with the person who shared the information with them. will make journo responsible for the information,” Mkhwanazi explained.

Whistleblower Safety Urged Amid Corruption Exposure

Mkhwanazi advised whistleblowers to protect their identities when reporting suspected corruption. While acknowledging government efforts to ensure safety, he stressed the importance of discretion in a high-crime environment.

“While government can try to put in safety structures, by and large, with the level of crime and corruption in the country, whistleblowers must not make their identity known, report something, even via someone, but don’t make your identity known because the moment you do it, you become a target,” he said.

The Ad Hoc Committee is expected to hear from National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola later today.

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