South Africans this week hails Lt Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi as a hero following an explosive media briefing in Durban on Sunday 6 July in which he alleged the infiltration of organised crime syndicates in the country’s criminal justice system.
This follows the KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner’s bafflement by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and deputy national commissioner Shadrack Sibiya’s decision to disband the political killings tast team, among other investigation findings. This was allegedly done under Mchunu’s orders, without informing Mkhwanazi (provincial commissioner) or the national commissioner, Lt Gen Sehlahle Fannie Masemola.
Withdrawal of key case files
According to Mkhwanazi, over 100 active investigation dockets related to political murders were removed from the task team in earlier this year, and have since withered without follow-up.
“On the 26 March this year a total of 125 case dockets that were under investigation were taken away from the task team as directed by a deputy national commissioner crime detection lieutenant‑general Sibiya was acting on the instruction of the Minister of Police [Mchunu] to disband the team,” he said.
“Five of these dockets had instructions to arrest perpetrators but nothing has been done because Sibiya withdrew these dockets.”[enca.com]
Mkhwanazi referenced WhatsApp messages from convicted businessman Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala’s phone, suggesting ties between the syndicate and Minister Mchunu through an intermediary, Brown Mogotsi. Matlala allegedly funded Mchunu’s campaign travel and events, with a R360 million police contract that was later cancelled in May.
SAPS’ deep corruption rot
Mkhwanazi’s claims extend beyond individual acts of corruption, implicating a far-reaching “criminal syndicate” that allegedly includes “politicians who are currently serving in Parliament,” alongside senior South African Police Service (SAPS) officials, metro police, Correctional Services personnel, prosecutors and members of the judiciary.
This network is purportedly controlled by “drug cartels and businesspeople”, suggesting a deep infiltration of the state’s criminal justice architecture.
President Ramaphosa responds
While president Cyril Ramaphosa was highly engaged at a BRICS summit abroad, he briefly acknowledged Mkhwanazi’s claims as a “grave national security concern”.
“I was not aware that [Mkhwanazi’s brief] was coming. Obviously, it is a matter I will be dealing with when I get home. I will need to look at it more closely and have a thorough discussion with a number of people and thereafter, there will be a clear way forward.”
Ramaphosa continued that this is a matter not to be ignored as “it has to do with the security of our people, but also our adherence to the rule of law”. [gov.za]
National Assembly chairperson of the portfolio committee on police Ian Cameron viewed these allegations as serious, noting that they required urgent attention from the president.
The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Mr @IanCameron23 said during the #WeeklyMediaBriefing that the allegations made by @SAPoliceService KZN Provincial Commissioner placed focus on integrity, or lack thereof, within the entire criminal justice system… pic.twitter.com/sIgeTMHXGy
— Parliament of RSA (@ParliamentofRSA) July 7, 2025
“The allegations, if correct, have far-reaching implications on the effectiveness of the SAPS and require immediate attention. The chairperson highlighted that the allegations are noteworthy because they have been made by such a senior-ranking officer within the Saps,” he said. [polity.org.za]
Appeal to SAPS
Mkhwanazi ended his briefing with a powerful appeal to members of the SAPS, urging them to “stand up and protect our people against this criminal syndicate”. He confirmed that a “formal criminal investigation was under way into the apparent capture of parts of South Africa’s criminal justice system”.
Despite the immense challenges and alleged attempts to disrupt their work, Mkhwanazi acknowledged the “resilience of the members of the political killings task team,” affirming that they “remain operational”. [dailymaverick.co.za]
