MPs shut down PA bid to censure Mkhwanazi over retracted Cele allegation

Johannesburg – Members of Parliament have rejected an attempt by the Patriotic Alliance (PA) to censure KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi over a retracted allegation involving former police minister Bheki Cele.

According to News24, the PA wanted Mkhwanazi found guilty of “gross negligence” after he withdrew an earlier allegation that Cele had received money from businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.

The allegation emerged during the parliamentary ad hoc committee’s investigation into wide-ranging claims of political interference and criminal infiltration in the police service.

Parliament’s records show that the committee has been considering a draft report on Mkhwanazi’s allegations throughout August.

Mkhwanazi later explained that the allegation against Cele resulted from an error during the analysis of data extracted from Matlala’s cellphone. He said a contact saved as “Bab Ndosi” had a telephone number that differed from Cele’s number by one digit.

Data-extraction process

“At a glance, the two numbers are almost similar, with a difference of one digit right in the middle,” Mkhwanazi told the committee, according to IOL.

He said the error occurred during the data-extraction process and insisted there was no deliberate attempt to mislead Parliament.

“It was an error made by the analysis team during the data extraction process. There was no ill intention, and that is why we withdrew upfront,” Mkhwanazi said.

Parliament’s own records confirm that Mkhwanazi retracted the portion of his evidence alleging that Cele had received money from Matlala through a third-party account.

The dispute comes as the committee continues to examine allegations involving Matlala, Cele and senior police officials.

In recent testimony before the Madlanga Commission, Matlala said Cele had arranged a meeting between him and Mkhwanazi in April 2025.

Police investigations

SABC News reported that Matlala said the meeting focused partly on problems relating to purchase orders for his company’s SAPS contract, while other matters involving police investigations were also discussed.

Sowetan reported that Matlala told the commission he had approached Cele after experiencing problems with purchase orders linked to a multimillion-rand SAPS tender. He said Cele subsequently arranged for him to meet Mkhwanazi.

The parliamentary inquiry is continuing, with MPs still considering the committee’s draft findings. Parliament said the committee was scheduled to continue consideration of its draft report on 27 August.

Mkhwanazi has previously criticised some MPs for what he described as appearing to prejudge evidence. However, he also praised the committee’s work, saying: “I have never seen Parliament work this hard.”

The committee’s final report is expected to determine how Parliament deals with the broader allegations made by Mkhwanazi, including claims of political interference, corruption and criminal infiltration within law enforcement.