Mkhwanazi blasts ‘prejudged’ Parliament Police inquiry as KZN police contract renewal nears
Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi to testify at the parliamentary ad-hoc committee. Photo Credit- News24
KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi is back at the centre of South Africa’s law-enforcement storm and this time, the headlines are coming from both parliament and the SAPS top brass. In a dramatic appearance before Parliament’s ad hoc committee probing police corruption, Mkhwanazi warned that some members of Parliament had “prejudged” evidence during months of hearings, even as National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola confirmed that the KZN police chief is set to stay on for another term.
The dual developments have pushed Mkhwanazi back into the national spotlight, as the outspoken provincial commissioner closes out a key phase of testimony in one of South Africa’s most politically sensitive police corruption probes. His comments raise fresh questions about the fairness of Parliament’s handling of evidence, while the expected renewal of his contract signals continued institutional backing despite the turbulence surrounding the inquiry.
Mkhwanazi accuses MPs of prejudging evidence in Parliament’s police corruption inquiry
Appearing before Parliament’s ad hoc committee on Wednesday, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi openly criticised the conduct of some MPs involved in the long-running inquiry into allegations of police corruption and malfeasance.
According to Eyewitness News, Mkhwanazi said he had grown increasingly uneasy over the past six months, arguing that certain lawmakers appeared to be forming conclusions before fully testing the evidence. He told the committee that, in his view, its role should be to listen, probe and assess evidence rather than prematurely deciding that specific individuals or actions were already wrong. While he stopped short of attacking the committee as a whole, he said he had at times been “worried” by the posture and attitude of some members.
His remarks are significant because they come at a crucial stage of the inquiry, which was established to examine allegations of corruption and political interference within the criminal justice system, allegations Mkhwanazi himself helped bring into the national conversation. His latest appearance was meant to serve as a closing submission, allowing him to respond to evidence led during the hearings and address allegations made against him.
Why Mkhwanazi’s Parliament testimony matters right now
The parliamentary inquiry into police corruption has become one of the most closely watched accountability processes in South Africa, particularly because it centers on claims of deep dysfunction and alleged interference within SAPS and related institutions.
EWN reported that Mkhwanazi returned as the last witness before the committee wraps up its evidence-gathering phase. The committee is expected to move next into drafting its report, and it has already received multiple deadline extensions to finish its work. eNCA previously reported that the National Assembly extended the ad hoc committee’s reporting deadline again to 31 March 2026, noting that scheduling delays and outstanding witnesses had slowed progress.
That timing makes Mkhwanazi’s criticism especially important. By warning that some MPs may have prejudged the evidence, he is effectively questioning the perceived impartiality of a committee that will soon help shape Parliament’s conclusions on one of the country’s biggest police-related political crises.
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Even while raising concerns, Mkhwanazi did not fully condemn the process.
Eyewitness News reported that he also commended the committee for the work it has done, acknowledging the long hours and effort MPs have put into the hearings over the past several months. That balancing act is notable: he criticised what he sees as premature judgment by some members, but he avoided dismissing the committee’s overall mandate or legitimacy.
This approach likely reflects the delicate political terrain he is navigating. Mkhwanazi remains both a key witness and a powerful public figure in the broader police crisis narrative. A full frontal attack on Parliament could have escalated tensions even further. Instead, he chose to frame his concern as a plea for procedural fairness and evidence-led scrutiny.
Fannie Masemola says Mkhwanazi will get another term as KZN police commissioner
While Mkhwanazi was challenging aspects of the parliamentary process, eNCA reported a separate major development on Tuesday: National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola said Mkhwanazi’s contract as KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner will be renewed.
Masemola told eNCA that the details are still being finalized, but made clear that Mkhwanazi is expected to remain in office beyond the end of March, when his current contract was due to expire. He added that he has a “good work relationship” with Mkhwanazi and said the KZN Premier has agreed to the renewal, with only the final modalities still being worked out.
That announcement is politically significant. For months, questions had swirled around whether Mkhwanazi would receive a second term, particularly given the explosive nature of the allegations and the intense scrutiny around the ongoing inquiries. The confirmation from Masemola suggests that, at least for now, SAPS leadership and provincial political leadership remain aligned behind him.
KZN government had already signaled support for Mkhwanazi’s second term
The idea of a second term for Mkhwanazi did not come out of nowhere.
Earlier reporting from both eNCA and Eyewitness News showed that the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government had already publicly backed him. In January, eNCA reported that KZN Premier Thamsanqa (Thami) Ntuli formally endorsed Mkhwanazi for a second term after a meeting with Masemola, citing confidence in his leadership and ethical standards. In October 2025, EWN also reported that the KZN government wanted to recommend that he remain in the post, arguing that the province’s fight against crime had intensified under his leadership.
That support matters because Mkhwanazi has become one of the most visible and polarizing police figures in the country. Admirers view him as a tough, outspoken crime-fighter willing to challenge powerful interests. Critics argue that his public role in exposing alleged wrongdoing has also made him a lightning rod in a highly politicized environment.
Why Mkhwanazi is trending in South Africa
Search interest around “Mkhwanazi” is surging because two major storylines have converged at once:
- He is making closing submissions in Parliament’s high-profile police corruption inquiry.
- He has publicly said some MPs appear to have prejudged the evidence.
- His contract as KZN police commissioner is being renewed, according to the national police commissioner.
For many South Africans, Mkhwanazi has become a symbol of the broader SAPS crisis, as well as a central figure in overlapping investigations into alleged corruption, political interference and law-enforcement failures. The fact that his name also continues to surface in relation to the Madlanga Commission and Parliament’s ad hoc committee only increases the public interest.
What happens next for Mkhwanazi and the Parliament inquiry?
With Mkhwanazi now having delivered his final evidence before the ad hoc committee, the parliamentary process is entering a decisive phase.
EWN reported that after his testimony, the committee is expected to focus on drafting its final report based on the evidence it has collected. That report could shape future parliamentary action, recommendations for SAPS, and the wider political fallout from the police corruption allegations that have gripped South Africa since 2025.
At the same time, Mkhwanazi appears set to continue as KwaZulu-Natal’s provincial police commissioner, which means he will likely remain a powerful and influential figure in the national policing debate even after the hearings conclude. The combination of continued office, public visibility and unresolved political tensions means the Mkhwanazi story is far from over.
For now, the key takeaway is clear: Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi is not backing down, not from the criminals he says he is fighting, and not from the lawmakers he believes may be getting ahead of the evidence.
FAQ
1. Why is Mkhwanazi trending in South Africa today?
Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi is trending because he made fresh comments during Parliament’s police corruption inquiry, saying some MPs appeared to have prejudged evidence, while a separate report said his contract as KZN police commissioner is being renewed for another term. Those two developments have put him back at the center of South Africa’s police crisis story.
2. What did Mkhwanazi say in Parliament?
Mkhwanazi said he had concerns about how some MPs on Parliament’s ad hoc committee handled evidence over the past six months. According to Eyewitness News, he said some members appeared to be making conclusions too early instead of first listening to and probing the evidence.
3. Why did Mkhwanazi accuse MPs of prejudice?
Mkhwanazi suggested that some MPs seemed to have prejudged many aspects of the inquiry before all the evidence had been fully considered. His concern was that the committee’s role is to assess and test evidence, not to decide in advance that certain people or actions are already guilty or wrong.
4. What is the Parliament ad hoc committee investigating?
The ad hoc committee is investigating allegations of police corruption, malfeasance and interference in the criminal justice system, including claims that emerged from the broader SAPS crisis. Mkhwanazi has been one of the central figures in those allegations and hearings.
5. Is Mkhwanazi getting a second term as KZN police commissioner?
Yes, that appears to be the case. eNCA reported that National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola confirmed Mkhwanazi’s contract will be renewed, although the exact details are still being finalized. Masemola said Mkhwanazi will remain the Provincial Commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal.
6. When does Mkhwanazi’s contract end?
Mkhwanazi’s current contract was set to expire at the end of March 2026, which is why there has been intense interest around whether it would be renewed.
7. What did Fannie Masemola say about Mkhwanazi’s future?
Fannie Masemola said that the process of finalizing the contract extension is underway and that Mkhwanazi will still be KZN’s provincial commissioner. He also said he has a good working relationship with Mkhwanazi and that the KZN Premier supports the renewal.
8. Did the KZN Premier support Mkhwanazi’s second term?
Yes. KZN Premier Thamsanqa (Thami) Ntuli had already publicly endorsed Mkhwanazi for a second term earlier in 2026. Both eNCA and earlier EWN reporting showed the provincial government was in favor of keeping him in the post because of his leadership in fighting crime.
9. Who is Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi?
Nhlanhla Sibusiso Mkhwanazi is a Lieutenant General in the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Provincial Police Commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal. He is a veteran law-enforcement official who previously served in senior national SAPS roles, including as Acting National Commissioner.
10. What role does Mkhwanazi play in the SAPS corruption crisis?
Mkhwanazi is one of the most prominent figures linked to the ongoing SAPS corruption and interference allegations. He has appeared before both parliamentary structures and related inquiries as a key witness, and his allegations have helped drive public and political scrutiny of police leadership and criminal justice processes.
11. What happens after Mkhwanazi’s closing submission?
After Mkhwanazi’s closing evidence, Parliament’s ad hoc committee is expected to move toward drafting its final report. EWN reported that he was the last witness, meaning the evidence-gathering stage is essentially ending and the committee will now focus on conclusions and recommendations.
12. Has the ad hoc committee’s deadline been extended?
Yes. eNCA reported that Parliament extended the committee’s deadline to 31 March 2026, marking yet another extension as the inquiry struggled to complete evidence-gathering on time.
13. Why is Mkhwanazi considered controversial or high-profile?
Mkhwanazi is seen as both high-profile and controversial because he is an outspoken senior police official who has taken public positions on corruption, crime and alleged interference in law enforcement. Supporters see him as a fearless anti-crime figure; critics see him as a polarizing figure operating in a highly politicized environment.
14. Could Mkhwanazi’s comments affect the inquiry?
Potentially, yes. His claim that some MPs have prejudged the evidence could intensify debate over whether the committee has handled the process fairly and objectively. It may not halt the inquiry, but it could influence how its final report is viewed by the public and political stakeholders.
15. Is Mkhwanazi still involved in national-level police debates beyond KZN?
Yes. Even though he is a provincial commissioner, Mkhwanazi remains a major figure in national policing and accountability debates because of his testimony, his role in major corruption allegations, and the public attention around the SAPS crisis and related inquiries.