Explosive Showdown: Mkhwanazi Fires Back After Durban Tycoon Accuses Him Of Deadly Plot

A war of words has erupted between KwaZulu-Natal’s top cop, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, and a Durban security company owner, with both sides trading serious allegations in public.

The Provincial Commissioner of South African Police Service (SAPS) in KwaZulu-Natal, has threatened legal action against businessman Calvin Mojalefa Mandlakapheli Mathibeli.

Mathibeli, who runs Calvin & Family Security Services, has accused Mkhwanazi of attempting to have him killed and of being influenced by rival business interests. The commissioner has dismissed the claims as false and defamatory.

Mkhwanazi Labels Claims ‘Malicious’ and Seeks Legal Recourse

In response to Mathibeli’s public accusations, Mkhwanazi described the allegations as “malicious, baseless, unfounded and somewhat threatening”. He confirmed that he is considering legal steps.

The dispute follows a recent raid at Mathibeli’s business premises, as well as developments linked to the Madlanga Commission.

KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda stressed that the raid was part of a national head office operation and not driven by provincial police.

“Mr Mathibeli seems to have an obsession with police in KZN and particularly, the Provincial Commissioner,” said Netshiunda.

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“Now that Mr Mathibeli has introduced himself to the police in KZN, his utterances were simply an invitation to police to start looking into his business dealings. Police have learnt that he is a beneficiary of a tender with the Department of Health in Gauteng. KZN police will give him the attention he is seeking and get the ball of investigations rolling,” he said.

Netshiunda added that local police were previously unaware of Mathibeli’s business operations.

“We would like to thank him for the voluntary invitation to his business operations,” he said.

He further stated that police in the province are working to rebuild public trust and would not allow what he called attacks on the service to go unchallenged.

“Nobody is above the law, and any wrongdoings by police must be reported to the relevant authorities, not a miscalculated smear campaign of disseminating fabricated untruths,” he said.

Mathibeli Claims Intimidation and Targeted Harassment

Mathibeli has taken to social media, alleging that he has long been aware of efforts to undermine him.

“The modus always used to satisfy handlers, the attempts to intimidate me and damage to my name ahead of my appearance before the Madlanga Commission,” he said.

He further claimed that police structures in KwaZulu-Natal were being used for private interests rather than public service.

In posts widely shared online, he alleged that in December last year he was told police had been instructed to kill him. He also claimed officers went to his sister’s home looking for him and later confronted his wife at his office.

“During this time, they stated that they had been monitoring my phones and referenced specific information about my movements, including that I had been at the airport on a particular date, which was accurate. They told my wife they were coming to arrest me and were instructed by the Hawks,” Mathibeli said.

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Firearms Seized, Employee Detained

Addressing the recent raid, Mathibeli said firearms were seized from his company, but he has not been informed where they are being stored. He also stated that one employee was detained for 24 hours and released without charge.

Another employee faces a charge of possession of unlicensed firearms. However, Mathibeli insists the weapons are properly licensed and were kept in a safe.

As Mkhwanazi weighs up legal action, Mathibeli has maintained that he will not back down.

The unfolding dispute, set against wider scrutiny following the Madlanga Commission, is likely to intensify in the days ahead.