General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi Faces Allegations of Torture, South Africans Defend Him

• The KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner, General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, is facing another investigation from the Independent Police Investigative Directorate
• This was after a group of people accused Mkhwanazi of taking part in their illegal extradition and torture
• South Africans defended Mkhwanazi and said the allegations are part of a smear campaign against him

Tebogo Mokwena, a Briefly News current affairs journalist based in Johannesburg, South Africa, covered a range of criminal activities, including cash-in-transit heists, kidnappings, taxi violence, police investigations, police shootouts, and court cases at Daily Sun for over three years.

JOHANNESBURG — South Africans defended KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, after allegations that he took part in the abduction, extraction, and torture of three kidnapping suspects in 2024 surfaced.

According to Sunday World, three men were allegedly wrongfully detained by a group comprising members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) and private security officers in November 2024. The victims, Esmael Maulide Ramos Nangy, Samkeliso Mlothswa, and Setefance Pereira da Costa, were stopped by two vehicles near Benoni, Ekurhuleni.

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The three men said that they were taken to various locations in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal and were accused of participating in the robbery and kidnapping of businessman Zak Desai in September 2024. There. They were reportedly tortured for information.

Mkhwanazi allegedly participates

Nangy, his associate and a SAPS officer who was a third suspect, were reportedly taken to a private farm near KwaDukuza on 9 December 2024. Mkhwanazi was present, and they were tortured in Mkhwanazi's presence. Nangy alleged that his Mercedes-Benz, watch, and R18,000 in cash were confiscated by the police. His Benz was later found burnt in Pietermaritzburg.

What does the report say?

The report recommended that those implicated in the ordeal be charged with torture, arson, perjury, obstruction of justice, kidnapping, violation of constitutional rights, and unlawful cross-border examination.

However, the IPID spokesperson, Lizzy Suping, did not comment. She said that the allegations and other allegations against the police will be investigated by the Commission of Inquiry established by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

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What has been happening with Mkhwanazi?

Mkhwanazi held a press briefing on 6 July 2025, where he alleged that members of the police force, politicians, parliamentarians, ministers, prosecutors, and members of the judiciary are involved in a criminal enterprise operating across the entire country. He also implicated Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu and deputy police commissioner General Shadrack Sibiya, and accused them of interfering with the affairs of the police.

Mchunu was placed on special leave, and President Cyril Ramaphosa established a commission of inquiry to investigate the allegations Mkhwanazi made. Sibiya was also placed on special leave pending investigations into the allegations.

What did South Africans say?

Netizens defended Mkhwanazi.

Thandeka Skhosana Ntombifuthi said:

"As a country, we forgive him. And we also feel he is executing his job very well."

Maake Shadrack said:

"Malema taught us how the media operates when you challenge the bosses."

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Julita Jules Mkoks said:

"At this point, nothing can make leadership look bad in our eyes."

Dannie Mphela Matjie said:

"No amount of smearing will make us doubt General Mkhwanazi."

Thato Thaban said:

"As expected. Hands off General Mkhwanazi!"

Julius Malema invites Mkhwanazi to join the EFF

In a related article, Briefly News reported that the Economic Freedom Fighters president, Julius Malema, invited Mkhwanazi to join the EFF. He spoke during the party's 12th anniversary celebration in Khayelitsha, Western Cape.

Malema affirmed the party's support for Mkhwanazi. He said that the EFF had a home for him should he lose his job.

Source: Briefly News