KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi says his sudden rise to public attention has come at a personal cost, with his privacy severely compromised.
In an exclusive interview with eNCA senior reporter Dasen Thathiah at the 27th Interpol African Regional Conference in Cape Town, Mkhwanazi opened up about the challenges of life in the spotlight.
Privacy Compromised by Public Recognition
“The difficulty is that my privacy has been compromised because wherever I walk, people recognise me or want to greet me, which is not what I enjoy most,” Mkhwanazi said.
Despite the constant attention, he downplayed any personal threats and focused on his team’s achievements in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
“Other than that, everything remains the same. I’m proud of the men and women out there. Especially in KZN, daily they’re making arrests, recovering illegal firearms, and securing successful prosecutions through hard work,” he added.
Fame Linked to Bombshell Corruption Claims
Mkhwanazi’s public profile surged after a July 2025 press briefing. He accused suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu of linking with criminal syndicates.
Mkhwanazi said Mchunu interfered in police investigations. He also alleged that Mchunu received payments from a corruption suspect.
The allegations prompted President Cyril Ramaphosa to suspend Mchunu and launch multiple inquiries, including an ad hoc parliamentary committee probing criminal infiltration in the police force.
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