The Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, says he did not open a case against KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, as reported over the weekend. He said it is the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) that has launched an investigation on Mkhwanazi for allegedly interfering with the arrest of a senior correctional services official.

ANONYMOUS COMPLAINT

The incident allegedly took place in Richards Bay in 2023. IPID claims that the matter is being probed because a member of the public alerted them of it. "IPID maintains that although it receives complaints and tip-offs from various sources, its investigations remain independent and impartial. The provincial commissioner is to submit a sworn statement by 19 March 2025," IPID said in a statement.

INVESTIGATION WELCOMED

In a statement this morning, Mchunu said he welcomes and fully endorses the statement issued by IPID on the matter but did not open a case against Mkhwanazi. "I do want to repeat that I have not laid any complaint against Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi. I do want to state, however, that we need to intensify our efforts on effective and efficient law enforcement in the Republic of South Africa. The South African Police Service is hard at work all over the country at Head Office and in the provinces," he said. He added that Mkhwanazi, like all the other provincial commissioners, is working hard in the fight against crime in his province, and that is duly recognised. "The ministry supports all provincial commissioners in their efforts. At all material times, the Ministry of Police works to uphold the rule of law and will do everything to strengthen mechanisms to fight against crime. As an independent and impartial oversight body, IPID conducts its investigations without external influence, and its decisions regarding cases under its jurisdiction are made independently."