South African Police Service (SAPS) commissioner for KwaZulu-Natal, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, has no plans for develop into the brand new head of the Hawks, and when his time period as KZN prime cop ends, the straight-talking police officer has different plans.
Speaking to members of Parliament (MPs) throughout a portfolio committee assembly on police this week, Mkhwanazi says he desires to see out his contract as police commissioner for the troubled province.
“I remain here to see to it [that] my contract is done, a contract that has got a year to go before it ends. And I will do my job and from there I will go home and relax,” Mkhwanazi informed MPs.
I don’t wish to lead Hawks, says Mkhwanazi
Mkhwanazi, who was appointed the KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner on 24 December 2018, additionally quashed rumours that he needed to succeed General Godfrey Lebeya as head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), generally referred to as the Hawks. Lebeya, who was appointed in 2018, completes his tenure in May 2025.
“I will never submit my application for the post of DPCI,” Mkhwanazi said emphatically, including that he joined the police service in 1993 to “to face the criminals directly”.
“That’s why I joined the Public Order Police unit, and from there I moved to the Special Task Force (STF). I never wanted to be a detective specifically, because I wanted to be involved with the real action, which is a combination of both investigation and combatting,” mentioned Mkhwanazi.
Leading from the entrance
And proof of his direct method has been on show over the previous years, with Mkhwanazi main KwaZulu-Natal law enforcement officials in lethal confrontations with criminals, eliciting reward and criticism alike, together with whispers of “extrajudicial killings“.
However, Mkhwanazi remained unmoved, telling law enforcement officials final yr to ignore “experts” and make criminals feel wrath of the law.
“Do not be discouraged by self-proclaimed specialists or analysts who discover relevance solely once they communicate badly in regards to the police. Such individuals have never experienced the dangers on the streets that you patrol 24 hours a day.
“I urge you to ignore the noise and execute your constitutional mandate professionally. Criminals who challenge the authority of the state by shooting at police officers should be made to feel the wrath of the law, all within the confines of the Constitution,” the previous STF member emphasised in August 2024.
And in different act of bravery whereas confronting criminals, the highly respected police officer needed to fend off an tried hijacking whereas he was off obligation in Tshwane (Pretoria) a number of years in the past.
NHLANHLA MKHWANAZI’S BACKGROUND
Born in Edendale, a township in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, well-known for the infamous violence earlier than the daybreak of democracy in 1994, Mkhwanazi joined the SAPS in 1993.
His preliminary deployment was in Public Order Policing, the place he managed the Public Order Police obligations throughout the police service. Since then, he has been via all the degrees and ranks and has efficiently served in several administration positions throughout the police service.
- Mkhwanazi holds a National Diploma and a BA Degree in policing. He has additionally been awarded certificates for qualifying for the supervisor’s function in counterterrorism investigations from the USA, bomb disposal from the Republic of South Africa, and disaster response groups from the USA.
- In 2005, he was appointed head of the Special Task Force for his excellent efficiency and experience. This department of the SAPS manages all specialised operational sections, such because the National Air Wing, National Intervention Unit, and the presentation of Special Task Force coaching.
- The Special Task Force is the SAPS’s highest specialised operations activity workforce. Heading it requires particular abilities, information, and intelligence.
- In October 2011, he was appointed by former president Jacob Zuma as performing nationwide police commissioner. He changed Bheki Cele, who was suspended and finally fired for meddling within the R1.78 billion police headquarters lease deal.
- In December 2018, Lieutenant-General Mkhwanazi was appointed as the top of police in KwaZulu-Natal.
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