The South African Policing Union (Sapu) has said the allegations against KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi remain unproven and should be handled through due legal processes.
The union was commenting on eNCA on Monday after the Independent Police Investigative Directorate confirmed that it had received an anonymous complaint regarding Mkhwanazi in connection with a case against a Correctional Services senior official. It said the investigation is underway.
Ipid stated that the complaint alleges that Mkhwanazi interfered with the arrest of a senior Correctional Services official. It said the alleged incident took place in Richards Bay in 2023.
Ipid added that it has requested Mkhwanazi to submit a sworn statement by Thursday, 19 March.
Commenting on the matter, Sapu's Lesiba Thobakgale stated that the union does not conduct trials through the media and believes the law should take its course.
However, he said the union has raised concerns about possible political interference in the case, suggesting that Mkhwanazi’s strong stance against crime and his refusal to succumb to political influence may have made him a target.
"We have seen efforts made by General Mkhwanazi in fighting crime in KwaZulu-Natal, and this may be a politically influenced matter. We suspect this but cannot confirm it at this stage," said Thobakgale.
He further pointed out that in the union’s experience, police officers, whether junior or senior, who perform their duties effectively and independently often find themselves facing allegations.
"Experience has shown that officers who do not yield to pressure from outside forces are frequently accused of wrongdoing. That is why we are saying the provincial commissioner should not be distracted by these allegations and should continue focusing on fighting crime in KwaZulu-Natal."
He added that while Ipid has a duty to investigate any claims against police officers, this should not overshadow the broader fight against crime.
"The good work being done by General Mkhwanazi and his team must continue despite these developments," Thobakgale added.