The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (Idac) has refuted claims of a supposed arrest warrant for KwaZulu-Natal’s police commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
Speculation circulating on social media suggested that Mkhwanazi was on the verge of being arrested due to allegations concerning the treatment of suspects by the political killings task team (PKTT).
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Various individuals, including activist Fadiel Adams and violence monitor Mary de Haas, have previously claimed that members of the task team employed harsh methods to extract information from suspects.
Mary De Haas Raises Concerns Before Parliamentary Committee
During her appearance before Parliament’s ad hoc committee last November, De Haas claimed that families had reported instances of alleged abuse by the PKTT during investigations.
“The abuses reported to me independently—emotional and physical. There was the use of tubing. Many police officers do this, but it’s nearly the norm. This is based on what everyone who encountered the task team has conveyed,” she noted.
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“Emotional and psychological abuse is often directed toward targeted police officers. The emotional abuse was intense. I have heard numerous accounts. One individual was pressured into giving false testimony against a former uMkhonto weSizwe member [not the political party].
“They frequently seize phones and search homes without warrants—these practices are very common. This is illegal. The fabrication of evidence is a severe issue. It was a commonplace practice.
“I’m hearing horrifying accounts. Human suffering. Severe incidents.”
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NPA Denies Social Media Claims About Mkhwanazi Arrest
In response to increasing online speculation, Idac dismissed claims regarding Mkhwanazi’s alleged impending arrest.
Idac spokesperson Henry Mamothame stated that these claims were baseless and aimed at disrupting law enforcement efforts.
“These rumors are clearly designed to disrupt and distract the work of Idac, as well as the duties that Gen Mkhwanazi is executing in the fight against crime,” remarked Mamothame.
“Citizens are encouraged to be cautious of false information spread on social media platforms, which seeks to undermine and discredit law enforcement in the country.”
Mkhwanazi Previously Addressed Allegations Regarding Justice
The allegations against Mkhwanazi are not new.
In November, Mkhwanazi informed the Madlanga commission that he was aware of a potential case concerning defeating the ends of justice that could be brought against him.
He revealed that he received a message alerting him about the issue from Brown Mogotsi via WhatsApp on 30 September 2024.
The matter involved advice Mkhwanazi provided a colleague regarding procedures to follow during an arrest linked to the acting head of the Qalakabusha correctional centre in Empangeni, who faced allegations of drug and ammunition possession.
“I must clarify that my advice was based on that incident, although the drugs and ammunition discovered were outside the residence where she lived, which is a state house situated within a state facility,” Mkhwanazi explained to the commission.
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“I instructed the senior officer overseeing the operation on how to handle that incident while ensuring justice is upheld, and that a proper investigation occurs, preventing wrongful litigation against the organization for arresting the wrong individual.”
Mkhwanazi emphasized the importance of investigators determining the ownership of the recovered firearm and ammunition prior to any arrest actions.
“Just because something is discovered at a location doesn’t imply it belongs to the person residing there,” he clarified.
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