Cape Town – The feud between forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan and KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has escalated after O’Sullivan filed a R10 million defamation counterclaim against Mkhwanazi.
The move follows Mkhwanazi’s earlier R5 million lawsuit accusing O’Sullivan of defamation over corruption allegations.
In court papers filed in the Gauteng High Court, O’Sullivan’s legal team claims Mkhwanazi falsely implicated him in criminal activity during his testimonies before both the Madlanga Commission and Parliament’s ad hoc committee.
The documents allege that Mkhwanazi wrongly stated that O’Sullivan had committed a crime and that a case had been opened in KwaZulu-Natal.
“On or about September 15, 2025, the plaintiff (referring to Mkhwanazi) instituted action against the defendant for R5 million in damages for alleged defamation, which action was served on the defendant on September 16, 2025,” the court documents state.
“On September 17, 2025, the plaintiff commenced giving testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.”
Paul O’Sullivan has filed a counterclaim of R10 million against KZN Police Commissioner, Nhlanhla #Mkhwanazi. O’Sullivan alleges that Mkhwanazi has defamed him before the Madlanga Commission & the #AdHocCommittee@Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/FpdhOUiFfO
— Zoleka Qodashe (@ZOLEKV_Q) October 18, 2025
O’Sullivan’s lawyers argue no such case exists and that the comments were false, defamatory, and unlawful.
The counterclaim also questions Mkhwanazi’s authority to register and investigate cases in his own province, asserting that his statements damaged O’Sullivan’s reputation.
O’Sullivan sues Mkhwanazi for R10 million
Forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan has hit back at KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi with a R10-million defamation countersuit.
The high-profile clash follows Mkhwanazi’s own R5-million lawsuit… pic.twitter.com/0No1Cx9vyx
— MDN NEWS (@MDNnewss) October 18, 2025
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
