Mkhwanazi Slams Government Response to July Unrest and State Security Corruption

Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi

By Mpho Dube, Editor-in-Chief of The Azanian

KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has come forward with scathing criticism of the government's response to the July unrest, citing a lack of will and failure to act in preventing the violence.

This sentiment was echoed in his recent testimony before Parliament's Ad Hoc Committee, where he also blasted corruption within the State Security Agency (SSA), saying it's irrelevant whether the agency is housed within the Presidency or not.

Mkhwanazi's comments on the July unrest highlight the government's inadequate response to the crisis, which resulted in widespread looting, riots, and economic distress. He attributed the state's failure to deal with the unrest to a lack of will and reluctance to authorize tools to prevent the mess, including intelligence that made the security cluster weak and vulnerable.

Mkhwanazi's allegations of corruption within the SSA are just as damning. He revealed historical failings within the agency, including theft of money, and stated that "whether they are within the Presidency or outside the Presidency, it doesn’t seem to make any difference. If they are bad outside, they will be bad inside". This raises questions about the effectiveness of the current structure and the ability of the SSA to serve the country.

Mkhwanazi's testimony before the Ad Hoc Committee has sparked a national conversation about corruption, political interference, and the integrity of the South African Police Service (SAPS). He has accused senior SAPS officials of corrupt practices and implicated Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, alleging his ongoing communication with individuals linked to criminal activities.

The Ad Hoc Committee has begun hearings into Mkhwanazi's allegations, with National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola set to testify. The investigation aims to get to the bottom of the corruption and political interference within SAPS and the SSA. As Mkhwanazi said, "I will die for this badge, and I will die for them... It is my duty, and the duty of every officer, to protect them. I am not going to surrender their safety to anyone".