KwaZulu‑Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Sibusiso Mkhwanazi will remain at the helm of policing in the province after his contract was approved for renewal for another five‑year term, authorities confirmed this week.
His current contract was due to expire at the end of March.
According to a broadcaster, Police Minister Fannie Masemola said the details of the contract extension are being finalised, affirming that Mkhwanazi will continue in his role as provincial commissioner.
“We are in the process of finalising those details. So yes, he will still be Provincial Commissioner of KZN,” Masemola said, adding that the renewal has the support of the KwaZulu‑Natal Premier.
“We have got a good working relationship and the Premier agreed to the renewal of the contract. So, we are just working on modalities,” he added.
The Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster on social media echoed the announcement on social media, confirming that Mkhwanazi’s term as provincial police commissioner will be extended by another five years.
“KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Sibusiso Mkhwanazi, will have his contract renewed for a further five-year term in his capacity as Provincial Commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal.”
Mkhwanazi, who has led policing in KwaZulu‑Natal for several years, has been a controversial yet impactful figure in South Africa’s law enforcement landscape.
His leadership has coincided with a range of high‑profile actions and public interventions that have shaped national conversation around crime, corruption, and institutional integrity.
In mid‑2025, Mkhwanazi made headlines nationwide when he held an explosive media briefing alleging deep political interference and corruption within the South African Police Service (SAPS) and broader criminal justice system.
He claimed that the Political Killings Task Team, a unit established to investigate politically motivated murders, had been disbanded and that more than 120 active case files were removed from provincial oversight, allegedly to protect politically connected individuals and syndicates.
Mkhwanazi argued that powerful interests within law enforcement and politics were undermining investigations into serious crimes, including high‑profile killings and organised syndicate activities.
His revelations prompted urgent national reaction, including the establishment of parliamentary inquiries and a judicial commission to probe allegations of corruption and interference in the police service.
Parliament’s Justice and Police committees welcomed the inquiry, noting that Mkhwanazi’s claims could help “root out corruption from the SAPS” and restore confidence in the criminal justice system.
SATURDAY STAR