KZN police chief Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi to head national anti-crime task team

Mkhwanazi

Durban – KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has been appointed to lead a new national crime-fighting initiative targeting organised criminal syndicates across South Africa, while continuing in his role as KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner.

His dual mandate comes after his provincial contract was renewed, with National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola reportedly handpicking him to head the national task team focused on specialised crime.

Mkhwanazi said he will remain KZN police chief but will not always be based in the province as he takes on broader national responsibilities.

“I’m still a provincial commissioner in the province. Literally it means I will have to do an oversight role in fighting organised crime while having the responsibility of the province,” he said, according to eNCA.

He explained that the deployment forms part of a broader strategy by SAPS National Commissioner Fannie Masemola to combat organised crime across the country.

“I will still be working in the province but moving around to try and coordinate both roles. It is quite a lot of work to do and as time progresses, we’ll see how feasible it is to do both.”

KZN Premier Thami Ntuli welcomed the move during the launch of the Provincial Forensic Laboratory in Durban, congratulating Mkhwanazi on his expanded role and describing it as well deserved, IOL reported.

Ntuli said that the goal is to make use of Mkhwanazi’s experience in addressing organised crime while still retaining oversight duties in KwaZulu-Natal.

“But as a South African police service, we always have strategies to fight crime. So as one of the strategies that the National Commissioner is employing, he has identified me to play a role in that strategy of fighting organised crime.

”So he then had the responsibility to brief the Premier on what it is that he’s intending to do and to utilise me and how is that going to impact in my role in the province.”

Details on the structure and rollout of the national task team are expected to be announced by SAPS.

Article written by