A highly respected police officer has shaken South Africa’s government with his explosive allegations that organised crime groups have penetrated the upper echelons of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration. Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi accused Police Minister Senzo Mchunu of having ties to criminal gangs and said his boss had closed down an elite unit investigating political murders after it uncovered a drug cartel with tentacles in the business sector, prison department, prosecution service and judiciary.
Gen Mkhwanazi earned public admiration almost 15 years ago when he suspended crime intelligence boss Richard Mdluli, a close ally of then-President Jacob Zuma. Mdluli was later sentenced to five years in jail for kidnapping, assault, and intimidation, vindicating Gen Mkhwanazi’s view that he was a rotten apple within the police service.
Gen Mkhwanazi made a dramatic comeback in 2018 when then-Police Minister Bheki Cele appointed him to the provincial police chief post, with one of his major tasks being to investigate killings in a province where competition for political power – and lucrative state tenders – is fierce. The disbandment of this investigative unit by Mr Mchunu led to Gen Mkhwanazi’s explosive briefing, complaining that 121 case dockets were “gathering dust” at the national police headquarters.
Gen Mkhwanazi’s tenure has not been without controversy, with an investigation by the police watchdog following a complaint that he interfered in a criminal investigation into a senior prisons official. However, he was cleared of the charge last month. His team has also faced criticism for their heavy-handed approach towards criminal suspects, who are sometimes shot dead in confrontations with officers under his command.
Public trust in the police stands at an all-time low of 22%, with the force plagued by issues of political interference, corruption, and a seeming inability to effectively tackle high crime levels. Gen Mkhwanazi’s credibility is on the line, with either proving his allegations against Mchunu or potentially falling on his sword. For now, he has cemented his reputation as a brave police officer who took on his political bosses – twice.
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