Mzansi rallies behind Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi amid IPID investigation

by Nomonde Simelane

Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has recently garnered the support of South African citizens as he faces an IPID investigation over allegations of interfering with the arrest of a senior Department of Correctional Services official.

Since stepping into office as Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN) Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has garnered the favour and support of some South African citizens as they believe that he has remained consistent in the fight against crime in KZN. According to these citizens, the commissioner is among the few leaders in the country that have remained dedicated to the cause of eradicating crime in KZN and South Africa as a whole.

However, his radical approach that has taken on a shoot to kill ideology when going head-to-head with criminals has garnered some backlash, as some citizens have expressed that they believe it will not end well in the long run.

Recently, the police chief has found himself as the target of an Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) investigation after an anonymous public complaint was made against him. The complaint was in relation to interfering with the arrest of Nelly Ndlovu, who has been identified as the former head of Westville Maximum Prison back in 2023. Nelly was arrested at Empangeni Police Station, however, eyebrows were raised when she was subsequently released, giving rise to suspicions of interference.

IPID has since given the lieutenant general until 19 March 2025 to submit a sworn statement detailing his involvement in the matter.

According to Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and some of his loyal supporters, he has garnered over the years, this investigation is yet another baseless attempt to undermine his leadership, a smear campaign of sorts, if you will. The police chief and co believe that his abrasive and approach to combating crime, as well as his attempt to deal with the internal corruption inside the force, has garnered this response. The reason his efforts have caused such a ruckus is that could be credited to the fact that Nhlanhla revealed that there are senior officials as well as politicians who benefit financially from this corruption.

“I’m closing the taps on abuse and internal corruption and that’s why I’m being targeted but it won’t stop me. One of the things we are dealing with is the SAPS Secret Fund,” the commissioner tells IOL.

Taking to social media, users have expressed their unwavering support for the general lieutenant in this time of facing attacks on his career.


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