Johannesburg – Former EFF member of parliament Mbuyiseni Ndlozi has publicly defended KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, urging South Africans to protect him from what he called “petty” attacks, amid growing tensions within political and policing circles.
Taking to X on Sunday, Ndlozi framed Mkhwanazi as a whistleblower fighting to expose criminal networks linked to senior politicians and police officials.
He warned that failure to support him could lead to South Africa becoming a “mafia state”.
Hands Off Gen. Mkhwanazi! A society that doesn’t protect whistleblowers is doomed to become a mafia state! They have already killed Babita. What do you think they will do to Mkhwanazi?
“He must be shielded from all petty, egotistical, pompous & parasitic attacks!
“All who try to reduce his mission to “personality fight ”, or even factions within the SAPS are all wrong. Journalists, politicians & many experts have been peddling of this line.
Hands Off Gen. Mkhwanazi! A society that doesn’t protect whistleblowers is doomed to become a mafia state! They have already killed Babita. What do you think they will do to Mkhwanazi?
He must be shielded from all petty, egotistical, pompous & parasitic attacks!
All who try…
— Mbuyiseni Ndlozi (@MbuyiseniNdlozi) March 22, 2026
“What this line seeks to do, is to neutralise the correct momentum against SAPS generals who have protected, advanced & benefitted from organised criminals with the endorsed of top politicians.”
His remarks came shortly after Julius Malema criticised Mkhwanazi, accusing him of dragging the EFF into his disputes with crime intelligence head Feroz Khan.
“He (Mkhwanazi) can blackmail or threaten anyone; we are not scared of policemen. When we joined the struggle, we were taught not to be scared of a policeman. We have not done it when we were young, and we are not going to do it when we are old,” Malema said.
WATCH | EFF leader Julius Malema has hit back at KZN Police Commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi should not drag him into disputes with Crime Intelligence Boss Major-General Feroz Khan. pic.twitter.com/sukD50P7R1
— SABC News (@SABCNews) March 21, 2026
“Mkhwanazi is fighting General Khan. And every time he fights General Khan, he drags the EFF name, he drags the CIC’s name… Let him fight Khan if they have got their own issues and leave the EFF out of their nonsense because EFF is not part of any nonsense they are fighting about at the police.”
The exchange follows testimony at the Madlanga Commission linking Malema to alleged interference in a Tshwane security tender — claims he has denied.
Khan was present at an EFF gala dinner in 2023, an appearance that raised speculation about potential ties between him and Malema, according to The Citizen.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, X and Instagram
Picture: Screengrab
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Betha Madhomu
