A storm is brewing within South Africa’s police leadership following startling claims by KwaZulu-Natal's top police officer, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
His allegations have reverberated throughout political and law enforcement sectors, especially in the wake of high-profile arrests recently made by the Investigative Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC).
Mpho Kwinika, general secretary of the Independent Policing Union of South Africa (Ipusa), responded by urging Mkhwanazi to present concrete evidence. Without proof, Kwinika warned, Mkhwanazi could face disciplinary procedures or even a formal investigation for breaching communication protocols within the police service.
The public fallout has raised concerns about stability within the South African Police Service. Internal disagreements at the highest level are uncommon—and when aired publicly, they risk undermining both morale and chain-of-command cohesion.
Kwinika also noted that any calls for removing Minister Mchunu would face significant legal and political hurdles, given his appointment by the president.
Adding to the controversy, Mkhwanazi recently accused Minister Mchunu of obstructing justice by protecting a suspect in Gauteng allegedly linked to violent criminal activities. He further suggested that dismantling the task team was a strategic move aimed at weakening law enforcement efforts against major drug operations.