Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi Exposes How Justice System Frees Repeat Offenders, Citizens Not Surprised
- Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi continued his testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry
- The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Police Commissioner exposed some of the flaws within the criminal justice system
- South Africans shared their thoughts on Mkhwanazi's claims, with many saying they experienced it themselves
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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 – Fisokuhle Ntuli, one of the men accused in the Senzo Meyiwa trial, was named in Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s testimony.
The KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Police Commissioner is currently appearing before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry that is looking into political interference and corruption within the criminal justice system.
During the second day of proceedings on 18 September 2025, Mkhwanazi spoke about Ntuli regarding challenges police faced when it came to prosecutions.
What did Lt-Gen Mkhwanazi say?
Addressing the commission at the Bridgette Mabandla Justice College in Pretoria, KZN’s top cop lamented the challenges faced in keeping criminals off the streets.
He mentioned that it was a concern how some criminals were arrested but then released on bail. The same criminals would then commit more crimes and be arrested again, but were granted bail once more.
“It simply means that the courts are not taking seriously the risks that these individuals pose to society.”
He added that it was concerning that the courts seemingly didn’t see the need to prevent these individuals from repeating offences.
Source: Twitter
Lt-Gen Mkhwanazi uses Ntuli as an example
Lt-Gen Mkhwanazi then used Ntuli as an example. The notorious KZN hitman has been implicated in the murder of former Bafana Bafana captain, Meyiwa.
Mkhwanazi noted that Ntuli was first charged in 2016 for four cases of attempted murder. He was convicted and sentenced, before he appealed the decision and was released on bail, while waiting for a date for his appeal. During that time, he committed four more murders before he was arrested again.
In October 2022, he was sentenced to six life terms and 39 years on six counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, two counts of possession of a prohibited firearm and two counts of unlawful possession of ammunition. The sentence related to the murders he committed in the Nongoma area between 2015 and 2018.
What you need to know about the Madlanga Commission
- President Cyril Ramaphosa established the Commission of Inquiry in response to Mkhwanazi’s allegations.
- Political parties slammed President Ramaphosa’s decision to establish the commission.
- The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development confirmed that the inquiry would cost R147.9 million.
- On 26 August 2025, Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi suspended two people for the Madlanga Commission delays.
- On 5 September 2025, it was announced that Mkhwanazi would appear before the commission and the Ad Hoc Committee.
South Africans not surprised
Social media users were not surprised by Mkhwanazi’s claims, with many saying that the cops were victims as well.
@TathametM said:
“The courts are as guilty as the cops and ministers who are supporting, if not pulling the strings of organised crime in South Africa. Those judges and judicial employees who keep granting bail to repeat offenders should be thrown in prison without a trial or parole, never mind bail.”
@ZiphoKhumalo3 added:
“The problem has never been SAPS but our courts, the over-protected judiciary. Police are putting their lives at risk catching dangerous criminals, so the magistrates and judges can let them back into society.”
@KetseBATLENG asked:
“Here we are, ordinary citizens at risk by the very same people who keep on getting bail. How do you give an individual charged with murder and attempted murder bail? Are you not giving them permission to go finish off what they started?”
@N12Styles stated:
“I now understand how frustrating it is for hard-working, honest police officers. What General Mkhwanazi is saying, we see it daily. District courts will refuse bail, and the accused and lawyers will go to the High Court, and subsequently bail is granted to dangerous criminals.”
@bhadelaLo_zola said:
“The judicial presiding officers should answer here.”
Mkhwanazi says criminal justice system faces risk of collapse
Briefly News reported that Lieutenant-General Mkhwanazi warned that the criminal justice system was at risk of collapse.
The KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner made the warning during the opening day of the Madlanga Commission.
South Africans shared their thoughts about Mkhwanazi's testimony and their concerns about the commission.
Source: Briefly News
