Jacob Zuma Hails Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi As Highly Qualified Whistleblower, Compares Him to Arthur Fraser

• The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party is taking Cyril Ramaphosa to court again over his decisions related to Nhlanha Mkhwanazi
• Jacob Zuma praised KwaZulu-Natal's Provincial Police Commissioner, hailing him as a qualified whistleblower
• The MK Party leader compared him to Arthur Fraser, who laid criminal charges against Ramaphosa in relation to Phala Phala

Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.

GAUTENG – Jacob Zuma has described Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi as a highly qualified whistleblower, comparing him to former spy boss, Arthur Fraser.

The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party leader made the comments in papers filed at the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria.

The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party is once again challenging President Cyril Ramaphosa in court over several controversial decisions, including the placement of Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on special leave and the establishment of an inquiry into allegations by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. The party also questioned the legality of appoint Professor Firoz Cachalia.

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What did Zuma say about Mkhwanazi?

In the court papers, Zuma hailed KZN’s top cop, adding that his allegations of criminality could not be dismissed. He then compared him to the controversial Fraser in the same breath.

"The serious and unprecedented revelations of alleged criminality made by Lieutenant-General Mkhwanazi, as another highly qualified whistleblower, in the tradition of former intelligence chief Arthur Fraser, can no longer be ignored or swept under the carpet at the request of the president," Zuma said.

Zuma and his party have turned to the High Court after the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) ruled in Ramaphosa’s favour when it first took legal action against the president. The ConCourt found that the MK Party had not made a case for direct access to South Africa’s apex court. The matter will be heard on 26 August 2025.

Zuma touched on this, saying that Ramaphosa sought to hide behind those technicalities to escape much-needed judicial accountability, but added that "there are no more hiding places".

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Who is Arthur Fraser?

The former head of the State Security Agency is no stranger to exposing corrupt activities, having laid criminal charges against Ramaphosa following the theft from his Phala Phala farm. Phala Phala remains a huge talking point since then, even though the National Prosecuting Authority opted not to prosecute the president.

Fraser was also named in Raymond Zondo's State Capture Inquiry report, which noted that documentation had been handed to the Hawks for investigation into possible criminal conduct by him. The investigation was halted, apparently on the instructions of Zuma, who was president at the time.

Fraser also granted medical parole to Zuma after he was jailed for contempt of the Constitutional Court.

Fraser's whistleblowing actions mirror the MK Party's frustration with Ramaphosa, particularly regarding his decisions stemming from Mkhwanazi's allegations.

What you need to know about the MK Party’s unhappiness with Ramaphosa

• The MK Party protested in support of KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Mkhwanazi.
• The party sparked mixed reactions by demanding that President Ramaphosa resign by Mandela Day.
• The party accused Ramaphosa of abusing the Constitution, asking that the ConCourt set aside his decisions.
• The ConCourt ruled in Ramaphosa’s favour, paving the way for him to appoint Professor Cachalia as the acting Police Minister.
• The MK Party slammed the Constitutional Court’s ruling and claimed that President Ramaphosa was repeatedly shielded by the courts.

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MK Party demands that Ramaphosa resign

Briefly News reported that the MK Party gave Ramaphosa a new deadline to step down from his post as president.

Jacob Zuma's legal team has also requested that the president answer a series of questions about his recent decisions.

The party threatened the president with legal action on 4 August, after their application in the Constitutional Court failed.

Source: Briefly News