Police Minister Clarifies Investigation against Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi

The Police Investigation Division (IPID) says it is investigating the KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lt General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, for allegedly obstructing the arrest of a Corrections Officer in Richards Bay, in 2023.

The division has asked the KwaZulu-Natal police commander to submit a sworn statement in response to questions sent to him by the 19th of this month. 

The unit said there was a mistake in the writing of a letter written to Lt General Mkhwanazi, the acting head of investigations at IPID, stating that the Minister of Police had asked IPID to investigate the Provincial Commissioner.

"This investigation is the result of an anonymous complaint from the public. IPID maintains that although it receives complaints from various sources, its investigations remain independent and impartial," IPID said.

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu issued a statement following the News24 story, saying that he was the one who asked IPID to investigate Lt Gen Mkhwanazi. 

In this statement, Mchunu said that he had not opened a case but expressed his acceptance of the ongoing investigation. He said that the police commissioner is working hard to fight crime and that his department must ensure that the law is upheld and will do everything possible to fight crime.

"IPID is an independent agency that operates without bias and decisions on cases under investigation are made independently."