DURBAN, South Africa – In a bombshell press briefing today, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi unveiled a shocking web of corruption and alleged political interference threatening the integrity of South Africa’s criminal justice system.
The Commissioner revealed details of a sprawling syndicate, controlled by drug cartels, that has infiltrated political spheres, law enforcement, and even the judiciary, while simultaneously accusing the Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu and his associates of undermining crucial investigations.
The revelations come amidst ongoing concerns about police corruption in South Africa and a recent spate of high-profile arrests of senior Crime Intelligence officials.
Political killings task team under siege
At the heart of the controversy is the highly effective KZN Political Killings Task Team, established in July 2018 under President Cyril Ramaphosa‘s Inter-Ministerial Committee. Mkhwanazi highlighted the team’s significant successes:
- Investigation of 612 case dockets, including murders, attempted murders, and intimidation.
- Arrest of 436 suspects and recovery of 156 firearms, with 55 directly linked to political cases.
- Successful conviction of 128 accused in 106 cases, leading to a staggering 1,081 years of imprisonment.
- Key investigations into the killings of traditional leaders in KZN and murders at the University of Fort Hare.
However, Mkhwanazi disclosed that on March 26, 2025, 121 crucial dockets were controversially withdrawn from the team by a Deputy National Commissioner, allegedly on the explicit instruction of Minister of Police. Crucially, this directive was reportedly issued without the knowledge or approval of either the Provincial or National Commissioners, effectively rendering these critical investigations inactive.
The Gauteng syndicate and a dangerous link
Mkhwanazi revealed that the alleged interference stemmed from the task team’s deployment of 10 members to Gauteng in 2024 to assist with a separate organized crime investigation. This expansion of their mandate, though successful, was cited as the justification for their disbandment.
The Gauteng probe, however, exposed a far more sinister operation: a sophisticated syndicate comprising politicians, SAPS members, prosecutors, and even members of the judiciary. “I can confirm before the South Africans today that the investigations which these members were involved with in Gauteng has unmasked the syndicate,” Mkhwanazi revealed.
This intricate network, according to the Commissioner, is directly controlled by drug cartels and powerful business figures. “This syndicate involves amongst others politicians who are currently serving in Parliament, the law enforcement officers include the members of the South African Police Service, the Metro Police and Correctional Services, they include prosecutors in Gauteng Province, the Judiciary, and all these are controlled by the drug cartel” Mkhwanazi added.
On Gauteng, the Commissioner confirmed that authorities “know who killed artists (in Gauteng), but the warrant of arrests are not signed.” In response, Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya accused Mkhwanazi of deliberately stalling the investigation into the murder of rapper AKA. “We had to intervene. I personally forced their arrest. Mkhwanazi was deliberately ignoring the AKA case,” Sibiya said in an interview with the SABC News.
Ministerial associates implicated in damning communications
The briefing presented explosive evidence of communications between Mr Brown Mogotsi, an alleged associate of Minister Senzo Mchunu, and Mr Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, a contractor with significant police contracts. These communications reportedly indicate:
- Mogotsi had access to classified police documents and forewarned the Provincial Commissioner of a plot to lay charges against him.
- Mogotsi sent Matlala a letter regarding the task team’s disbandment on January 1, 2025, just one day after it was issued by the Ministry.
- Analysis of Matlala’s phone allegedly shows he was financially supporting the Minister and Mogotsi’s political activities.
- Further communications suggest Mogotsi discussed Matlala’s contracts and disciplinary matters with the Minister and senior police officials.
This raises serious questions about the influence wielded by individuals close to the Police Ministry and their potential impact on high-stakes criminal investigations.
Crime intelligence leadership crisis deepens
Adding to the gravity of the situation, the Commissioner highlighted that the Minister’s directive on December 31, 2024, also included suspending the filling of vacancies within the crucial Crime Intelligence unit. This decision has left the unit leaderless, severely compromising its operational capabilities in the fight against organised crime. This concern resonates with recent reports of multiple arrests of senior Crime Intelligence officials.
Commissioner vows to fight Corruption
Despite the alleged pressures and attempts to derail investigations, Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi remained defiant, reiterating his unwavering commitment to fighting crime and corruption within the justice system. He confirmed that a full criminal investigation would be registered to address the infiltration and control of the criminal justice system by organized crime.
“The political killings task team remains operational under the authority of the National Commissioner,” affirmed Mkhwanazi, signaling a direct challenge to the ministerial directive.
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