Mkhwanazi sues O’Sullivan for R5m

Cape Town – KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi is suing private investigator Paul O’Sullivan for R5 million, claiming O’Sullivan defamed him in media interviews.

This follows Mkhwanazi’s own July media briefing, in which he accused politicians, law enforcement, prosecutors, and the judiciary of being involved in a syndicate controlled by drug cartels and businesspeople.

According to The Citizen, O’Sullivan accused Mkhwanazi of corruption, luxury spending using public funds, involvement in organised crime, and implementing a “shoot to kill” policy.

[WATCH] “I want to see that man fall, the sooner the better,” Forensic consultant Paul O’Sullivan tells @imanrappetti. pic.twitter.com/JJqSXcnIph

— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) July 6, 2025

“Mkhwanazi is one of the biggest criminals that ever wore a police uniform. His crimes, when they are finally exposed, will shock the nation,” he was quoted as saying.

“Hes not a member of the task force,why does he have 6 men on either side of him wearing task force uniform with masks on, how much did it cost tax payers for him to be standing there and lie to the media” O’Sullivan, this bastard must be cooked, Give Mkhwanazi his R5 million🤧 pic.twitter.com/beA4bBWtV3

— FighterGiveUsASignal (@athenkosi591) September 16, 2025

Mkhwanazi says these statements damaged his reputation, and previous demands for a retraction and apology were ignored. O’Sullivan dismissed the lawsuit as an attempt to silence a whistleblower.

“As a result of such defamation of his character, the plaintiff has been severely damaged in his reputation, the quantum whereof is in the sum of five million rand,” reads Mkhwanazi’s court papers.

BREAKING NEWS | Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi sues forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan for R5-million over his recent statements.

O’Sullivan has claimed on several media platforms that Mkhwanazi is a criminal who runs a hit squad, and is involved in corruption.

I’ll unpack this… pic.twitter.com/IlMaZuXZSY

— Dasen Thathiah (@DasenThathiah) September 16, 2025

On Tuesday, O’Sullivan told News24 that Mkhwanazi’s lawsuit was “a desperate move to silence a whistleblower.”

According to IOL, this is not O’Sullivan’s first controversial action.

Last month, ActionSA Chief Whip Athol Trollip filed criminal charges against him, alleging that O’Sullivan threatened and intimidated him via multiple text messages, the report said.

Trollip said the messages interfered with his parliamentary duties and were a direct attack on an elected official.

In one message, O’Sullivan accused Trollip of supporting Mkhwanazi’s alleged criminal conduct and insulted him personally.

Trollip defended his actions, saying he was only performing his duties as a public representative and calling for investigations into the allegations made by both O’Sullivan and Mkhwanazi.

Mkhwanazi is scheduled to testify first at the Madlanga Commission investigating his allegations.