WATCH | ‘I face them directly’: Mkhwanazi explains military uniform at press conference

Mkhwanazi

Pretoria – KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi defended wearing a military-style SAPS special task force uniform during a July 6 press briefing where he accused Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, senior officers, and judiciary members of organised crime.

Speaking at the Madlanga Commission on Friday, he said the attire symbolised readiness for both psychological and physical battles against deep-rooted corruption, which he described as “terrorism” threatening government integrity.

“How do you deal with a terrorist? Because as I see it now, I think this is terrorism.

“These are people who want to take over government not through the ballot paper, but through these criminal activities,” Mkhwanazi said.

Mkhwanazi added that the purpose of the press conference was to deliver a strong and unmistakable message.

“We wanted to communicate a message to these drug squads, politicians, the executive, police officers within law enforcement agencies that we ready for them. I knew that I have a target on my back,” the commissioner said.

He added: “Maybe you’ll forgive me in saying this, but as a Zulu man, angim’nyonyobeli umuntu, ngimqonda ngqo (I don’t sneak up on a person, I faced them directly),” Mkhwanazi said.

Mkhwanazi argued the briefing applied pressure to unblock 121 shelved police dockets and said he faced political interference previously under former police minister Nathi Mthethwa, who tried to halt disciplinary and fraud proceedings against ex-Crime Intelligence head Richard Mdluli.

Frustrated by political meddling, Mkhwanazi resigned as acting national commissioner and highlighted his commitment to confronting corruption directly rather than acting as a “pawn”.

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Compiled by Betha Madhomu

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