Crowds chant Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s name during festive season safety campaign with KZN Premier Ntuli

KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli were met with chants from beachgoers as they conducted a festive season safety awareness campaign on the Durban beachfront on New Year’s Day.

Crowds could not contain their excitement and appreciation as Mkhwanazi and Ntuli walked along the beachfront. 

Jokingly, Ntuli told the media that the visit was not an easy one because, as premier, people could not recognise him, but with Mkhwanazi, people were chanting “Mkhwanazi”. 

“That is how good the work of the police is recognised by the people of the province of KwaZulu-Natal,” Ntuli said. 

“Ours is to see whether our citizens are safe during the conclusion of the festive season. We know that some coming from afar, even outside of our province, even outside of our country, when they see the likes of General Mkhwanazi and also the members of SAPS, metro (police) and safety structures, they gain confidence in the safety and security on the beaches.” 

He noted that the heavily crowded beaches demonstrate a significant increase in provincial tourism and economic activity, which is attributed to the improved safety and security that makes KZN a popular tourist destination.

“We are quite proud of our men and women in blue, who are doing work, and we thank them for the wonderful work that they are doing. Even the rescue team here, they are doing good work as the provincial government, we’re happy with the work of the police that they are doing during this season,” Ntuli said. 

Again, reflecting on the walkabout, Ntuli said it was really crazy because he was with Mkhwanazi. 

“I even thought that I was supposed to hide him in the offices. Maybe it was not going to be so crazy,” Ntuli said. 

Speaking on Mkhwanazi’s contract renewal, Ntuli said they do not renew contracts in the media space, but there are places they engage. 

He said that long ago, he was on record expressing his happiness and comfort with Mkhwanazi’s leadership. 

“And I said, a long time ago… I will give a concurrence whenever I’m supposed to, for him to continue because he’s doing good work. Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, I said he’s a police (officer) of integrity, and I have no reason for the province of KwaZulu-Natal, when I see such stability, when I see such aggressive fight against crime, to think otherwise, I’m quite happy,” Ntuli said. 

“Well, it will be up to him to whether accept or not accept, but from my side, on behalf of the people of KwaZulu-Natal, we’re happy with the work that he’s doing and the police are doing in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. Hence, I will have no doubt to give it a yes for Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi to continue.”

Mkhwanazi said that when they held the parade in October, launching their festive season operation, they outlined their plans, objectives, and phases of the operation. New Year’s Day was so that the premier can see what has been achieved and the activities law enforcement has been busy with. 

“Thus far, we are about to complete the third phase of our operations today (Thursday), and tomorrow (Friday), we start with the fourth phase, which is the final phase of our operation that’s going to run until the end of January. So these are operations specifically for the festive season,” Mkhwanazi said. 

He said they are still conducting police operations that have led to many arrests. 

He highlighted a rise in shooting incidents where suspects died after engaging police officers. They are also disturbed by arrests of their own officers for crimes from drunken driving to robbery. Other law enforcement, including metro police and Correctional Services, also faced arrests.

Despite facing difficulties, Mkhwanazi thanked the police for their work and urged them to remain focused as operations concluded, remembering their core objective.

thobeka.ngema@inl.co.za