Pretoria – Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has dismissed claims linking him to any political party, saying he has no political affiliations or ambitions.
Speaking before Parliament’s ad hoc committee, the KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner expressed frustration over his image being used in uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party posters without his consent, clarifying that he is “a policeman, not a politician.”
“I did not appreciate that. I took it because at the first march it was a mix of political parties, but the second march, where they had my photos and everything, I sent a message to the people of MK to say get me out of there.
“If you want to march for whatever you march for do not use my face. I do not belong there. They apologised and acknowledged that it was, unfortunately, too late to prevent other people from using my face,” Mkhwanazi said.
General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi tells the Ad Hoc Committee he was unhappy to see his photo used in MK Party marches. “I sent communication to the MK Party, I said, get me out of that,” he said.
On calls for him to run for president, he added, “I am a policeman.”#ParliamentAdhoc pic.twitter.com/dl4aWzB6Tm
— MDN NEWS (@MDNnewss) October 8, 2025
He added: “I was happy with the citizens making noise, political parties are free to make noise, they are members of society as well, but to be used as a face in politics was a problem for me.”
Mkhwanazi said he would not enter politics even after his current contract ends, adding that he has no ties to any ANC faction. He emphasised that his loyalty lies with law enforcement, not political movements.
“Since then, what has happened is people start saying Mkhwanazi for president. I came here yesterday and I said I am a policeman. I know how to be a law enforcement officer not to be a politician.
“One of the first responses came from political parties uMkhonto weSizwe amongst others when they started marching and I did not appreciate that on the second March they had my photos in Gauteng, I sent Communication to the MK Party, I said get me out of that” General Nhlanhla… pic.twitter.com/kocv9CYYdN
— News Live SA (@newslivesa) October 8, 2025
“I have never had much of a relationship with politicians. I am not saying I do not like politicians but their method of operation at times troubles me. That is why I would not want to become one.
“To those who dream of having a person of my calibre as a head of state I am sorry to disappoint but I am what I am,” he said.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, X and Instagram
Picture: X/@SisonkeViti
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Betha Madhomu
