In a shocking revelation at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has alleged that former Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa exerted political pressure on the former Inspector-General of Intelligence, Faith Radebe, to withdraw a criminal case against Richard Mdluli. Mdluli, who previously headed the police’s Crime Intelligence unit, faced serious allegations concerning the misuse of a secret police slush fund from 2008 to 2012, which included extravagant private trips and the personal use of police safe houses.
Mkhwanazi, who served as acting police commissioner during these tumultuous years, testified over three days at the Commission, detailing instances of political interference that he claims thwarted his efforts to initiate prosecution against Mdluli. The former commissioner pointed to a critical meeting in 2011, where he alleges Mthethwa directly influenced Radebe to retract a letter that would have propelled the corruption case into the courtroom.
“If you talk about political interference, that was the worst I’ve ever experienced,” Mkhwanazi stated emphatically during his testimony. He recounted Mthethwa’s explicit indication that charges against Mdluli would not be pursued, painting a troubling picture of the political dynamics within the police force at the time.
Mkhwanazi’s revelations have sparked a wave of concern about the ongoing issues within South African crime intelligence, with the former commissioner asserting that the same troubles persist today. “It cannot be that I allowed the Mdluli era, the minister Mthethwa era, under former president Jacob Zuma to happen like that, and it’s happening again now, and I keep quiet,” Mkhwanazi asserted, emphasising the necessity of transparency in the police force.
As the Madlanga Commission continues its investigation into these serious allegations, Mkhwanazi has indicated that he will return to testify again, as the inquiry seeks to uncover the depths of corruption and the extent of political influence within the South African police system. The implications of this testimony may prove significant, not only for those directly involved but for the integrity of law enforcement as a whole.