National police commissioner General Fannie Masemola confirmed on Wednesday, 9 July, that KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has received threats to his life.
Masemola said the South African Police Service (SAPS) has increased Mkhwanazi’s security in response.
Masemola addressed journalists virtually from Vanderbijlpark, Gauteng, and made it clear he would not persecute Mkhwanazi.
“We have beefed up his security, but there will be no persecution of any SAPS member, not only him,” Masemola said.
Awaiting Presidential Action
When asked if he would take action against Mkhwanazi following his public accusations, Masemola said he would wait for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s intervention.
The president has called the ongoing dispute a serious national security concern.
Mkhwanazi Accuses Police Minister of Interference
Mkhwanazi has accused Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and deputy national police commissioner Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya of disbanding the political killings task team without proper authority.
According to IOL, he claimed they locked away sensitive case dockets in Pretoria under Sibiya’s control.
According to Mkhwanazi, some of the task team’s investigations had exposed a crime syndicate involving politicians. Underworld figures, judges, prosecutors and senior police officials.
He said dismantling the task team sparked tensions within the South African Police Service (SAPS).
It also triggered arrests by the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Investigating Directorate Against Corruption.
Mkhwanazi to Open Criminal Case Against Mchunu
Mkhwanazi has vowed to open a criminal case against Mchunu, accusing the minister of interfering in policing matters.
Do you believe the president should urgently step in to resolve the conflict between SAPS leaders before it weakens the fight against crime?
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