Mkhwanazi wraps up evidence with more damning allegations

Mkhwanazi concluded his three-day testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry sitting at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College in Pretoria.

More instances of alleged political interference to the detriment of the inner workings of the South African Police Service (SAPS) were revealed by KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi on Friday.

Mkhwanazi concluded his three-day testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry sitting at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College in Pretoria.

During his last day in the hot seat, Mkhwanazi outlined several instances of how politicians allegedly meddled in the functioning of the SAPS.

He made damning allegations against two former police ministers and the presidency in what he claims was evident political interference in the service.

He alleges the presidency instructed the national police commissioner, Fanie Masemola, to redeploy detectives to Richards Bay Minerals, a private entity, to prioritise several cases for the company.

‘No, I received a complaint from the presidency; you must send these people back there.’ Mkhwanazi said.

He also alleges former police minister Bheki Cele tried to interferein an internal police disciplinary process by requesting that an officer resign so he did not have to chair the disciplinary hearing into crime intelligence spy boss Feroz Khan.

“Can General Cele really go to the extent of wanting a person to resign from the SAPS because he wants to protect someone? It was really strange; I did not talk to Cele from that day.” Mkhwanazi added.

He also alleges that former police minister Nathi Mthethwa interfered in the prosecution of disgraced crime intel boss Richard Mdluli back in 2011.

Mkhwanazi has now concluded his time on the stand and will be recalled at a later stage.