Why Mkhwanazi dug in his heels amid IPID probe

KWAZULU-Zulu Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi continued to maintain his innocence over a probe by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) regarding his conduct, which remains shrouded in mystery.

The investigation stemmed from an allegation that Mkhwanazi had allegedly interfered in the 2023 arrest of a senior Correctional Services official in Richards Bay.  

On Tuesday, Mkhwanazi convened a meeting with station commanders and other senior police officials at the Durban Centre Jesus Dome in Mayville. During this closed-door gathering, Mkhwanazi addressed his leadership team, urging them not to yield to external pressures and to always prioritise doing the right thing in their work.

“Are you afraid to be told that you are a commander who does not want to arrest people? I made a decision at one stage that you cannot detain a person if you don't have a case. Where did I end up? In the media. IPID was thrown at me.”

The comments were a clear defence of his actions related to the incident that sparked the probe. Mkhwanazi stressed that he had not faltered in his stance, as he believed his decisions had been justified. “Did I bury my head underground? No, I didn’t. I am still standing because I knew what I was doing was right,” he said.

Mkhwanazi went on to outline his philosophy on law enforcement, explaining that arrests should not be made for the sake of making arrests. “You don’t arrest a person because you want to arrest. You must be convinced that there is a crime that has been committed before this person is detained in a police station,” he said.

He emphasized the importance of a solid case before taking such a serious step.

Mkhwanazi also reminded his officers of the honour in their profession, encouraging them to respect the SAPS organisation, the country's flag, and the citizens they served. 

“Respect the organisation, colleagues. Love it. Respect the commanders and love the SAPS as your employer. And lastly, respect the flag. If you respect the flag of this country, you are going to respect your client, the citizens, because this is what the flag represents.”

During the meeting, Mkhwanazi pointed to the positive strides the province had made in tackling crime. “The province has shown a decrease in cases of murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, car and truck hijacking, as well as robbery at business and residential premises,” he remarked. 

However, he acknowledged that more work remains to be done to ensure the province is free from crime.

The IPID's investigation into Mkhwanazi has sparked significant controversy, with many of his supporters accusing the police watchdog of targeting him unfairly. Some of Mkhwanazi’s backers organised a march in his support in Durban. It was called off after reports emerged that the IPID had suspended the investigation.

Mkhwanazi's supporters argued that he has been a staunch and effective leader in the fight against crime, particularly in the province, which has long battled high levels of violence and criminal activity. His no-nonsense approach has earned him praise from many South Africans, who believe his leadership was key to reducing crime in KwaZulu-Natal.

IPID, however, has remained tight-lipped on the matter. The watchdog's spokesperson, Lizzy Suping, was previously quoted as saying, “The IPID's position as per our statement released on the 16th of March 2025 is that we are not going to engage on the matter until our investigation is concluded.”

The investigation had drawn political support from several parties, including the EFF, IFP, uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), and the ATM, all of which have publicly backed Mkhwanazi. 

In addition, the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) has also voiced its support for the commissioner.

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