Welcoming IPID’s Exoneration of KZN Police Commissioner Lt Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi
- Bagaetsho
- Apr 10
- 2 min read
MEDIA STATEMENT
Johannesburg, 10 April 2025 — Public Interest SA welcomes the findings by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), which have cleared KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, of any wrongdoing related to alleged interference in the 2023 arrest of a senior official from the Department of Correctional Services.
While Public Interest SA has consistently held confidence in General Mkhwanazi’s integrity and commitment to ethical leadership, we nevertheless condemn the baseless and evidently mischievous allegations that sought to impugn his character and undermine his exemplary service. General Mkhwanazi continues to stand as a lodestar of ethical leadership, patriotism, and selfless dedication to the service of the South African people.
With this matter now resolved and the cloud lifted, we urge the South African Police Service (SAPS) to remain ever vigilant against the insidious practice of weaponising unsubstantiated claims to discredit officers who execute their duties with courage and honour. The Rule of Law suffers when principled public servants are vilified and turned into targets for malicious pursuits.
"As a society, we must take a firm stand against those who seek to demoralise and delegitimise public officials who display forthrightness and integrity in their service to the nation. Such acts of bad faith not only undermine institutional morale but also pose a threat to democratic accountability and the pursuit of justice," says Tebogo Khaas, chairperson of Public Interest SA.
We call upon all stakeholders to allow General Mkhwanazi and his dedicated provincial team the operational space and public support necessary to intensify the fight against the endemic scourge of serious crime and corruption that continues to afflict KwaZulu-Natal and broader South African society.
Public Interest SA reaffirms its unwavering support for all public officials who embody the highest standards of ethical governance, transparency, and public accountability.
ENDS
