From bombshells to backlash: How Lt-Gen Mkhwanazi’s claims set off a political firestorm

KwaZulu-Natal police chief Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi unleashed a series of claims against high-ranking officials, including his own boss, police minister, Senzo Mchunu.

During his media briefing on Sunday and dressed in his Special Task Force camouflage uniform, Mkhwanazi implicated Mchunu, his close associate Brown Mogotsi and Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection, Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya, as key and central tenets to the alleged interference in police operations, including the disbanding of a task team investigating political killings.

Read more here: 'Combat ready' KZN top cop Lt Gen Mkhwanazi makes damning allegations against Police Minister Senzo Mchunu

Let's look back at what happened and where we stand today...

Mchunu denied the allegations levelled against him.

Mchunu, who took over the top job from Bheki Cele in June 2024, slammed Mkhwanazi's claims as "baseless and without evidence".

Read more here: Police Minister Senzo Mchunu denies Mkhwanazi claims of political interference in the SAPS operations

There is further speculation that the allegations could crumble Mchunu's political aspirations. 

IOL reported that while Mchunu's campaign started to gain traction,  the landscape shifted dramatically when Mkhwanazi publicly accused Mchunu of interfering in police operations. Mkhwanazi further claimed that he and Sibiya were protecting individuals linked to organised crime. 

Read more here: Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi's bombshell sees Senzo Mchunu's ANC presidency ambitions crumble

The South African Police Service (SAPS) further rushed to allay concerns following Mkhwanazi's explosive revelations. 

In a statement following the briefing, SAPS said National Commissioner of SAPS, General Fannie Masemola will update the media on ongoing police operations that are underway to prevent and combat crime in the country, and other issues that are currently in the public domain will also be discussed. No date or time has been given for when this will take place.

Deputy National Police Commissioner for Crime Detection, Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya, has also denied explosive allegations.

"He must stop behaving like a criminal and behave like a disciplined member of the police. Tell him to stop threatening people and talking about violence there. He must stop behaving like a warlord. He's a member of the police," he told the SABC in an interview. 

Read more here: 'Criminal' Shadrack Sibiya hits back at 'warlord' Mkhwanazi

Reaction

There has been widespread reaction to Mkhwanazi's claims, including political parties calling for a full investigation. 

From the Umkhonto Wesizwe (MK) Party to the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the Democratic Alliance, concerns have been raised about the allegations. 

Read more here here and here 

Forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan denounced Mkhwanazi's claims, adding that he was unimpressed and that he thought the KZN SAPS head had overstepped.

Read more here: Paul O'Sullivan on Lt-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi: I want that man to fall, and the sooner the better

Political commentator Faiez Jacobs said Mkhwanazi's claims were 'a truth too dangerous to ignore'

"He spoke as a police officer, but his words carried the weight of a patriot sounding the alarm

"Let’s be honest. We are no longer dealing with isolated incidents of corruption. This is systemic. This is embedded. And this is dangerous," he wrote in an opinion-editorial featured on IOL.

Read more here: 'A Defining Moment for South Africa’s Democracy'.

Read more here: Police unions SAPU and POPCRU ‘shocked but not surprised’ by KZN police boss Mkhwanazi's explosive claims

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for those implicated to account. 

Ramaphosa, who was at the BRICS Summit in Brazil at the time of Mkhwanazi's briefing, said he would give the matter his ‘eagle-eyed attention’ upon returning to South Africa.

Read more here: Those implicated in Lt-Gen Mkhwanazi’s claims must account - Ramaphosa

The African National Congress (ANC) has also called for Mchunu to 'come clean'. 

Party secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula said they are waiting for a full report from Mchunu. 

Read more here: Lawlessness days are over, ANC expects report from Mchunu following Mkhwanazi's corruption claims 

Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, Ian Cameron has also called for action. 

Read more here: Ramaphosa urged to make the allegations against Mchunu his top priority upon return from Brazil

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has meanwhile has characterised these allegations as a significant challenge to the integrity and functionality of SAPS, an institution tasked with the critical responsibilities of maintaining public order, ensuring citizen safety, and upholding South Africa's constitutional democracy.

"The Commission has written to the President calling for the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry to thoroughly investigate the allegations made," it said. 

Despite the ongoing wave of denials, support for what he said and those who think he overstepped, Mkhwanazi remains steadfast in his decision. 

IOL