SA Reacts as Analyst Warns Mkhwanazi's Commission Role May Derail Independent Anti-Corruption Agency
- Political analyst Jonny Steinberg raised concerns about Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi's dominant presence at the Madlanga Commission
- Steinberg warned that the commission's focus could shift toward reforming SAPS rather than establishing a standalone anti-corruption body
- South Africans pushed back sharply against Steinberg's analysis, questioning his motives and the publication that carried his views
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SOUTH AFRICA — Political analyst and Yale University lecturer Jonny Steinberg has raised concerns that Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi's commanding presence at the Madlanga Commission risks steering it away from the creation of a fully independent anti-corruption agency. His remarks sparked a debate on social media.
Steinberg's warning, published by News24 on 17 August 2026, drew immediate and heated responses from South Africans on social media who questioned both the analysis and the publication behind it. Steinberg argued that Mkhwanazi's charisma and high-profile standing at the commission create an illusion that the South African Police Service is capable of leading the country's fight against organised crime.
He noted that 13 months after Mkhwanazi publicly accused the police minister, senior prosecutors, and judges of being compromised by criminal syndicates, the lieutenant-general remains untouched while several former officials have since vacated their positions.
Steinberg's case against SAPS leading anti-corruption work
Despite acknowledging that SAPS requires reform, Steinberg maintained that the structural limitations of the police service make it unsuitable as the primary vehicle for cleansing the state of high-level corruption. He called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to use the commission as an opportunity to establish a dedicated, constitutionally insulated anti-corruption body rather than placing that burden on SAPS.
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Mkhwanazi's allegations originally surfaced during a press briefing on 6 July 2026, in which he claimed a criminal syndicate had infiltrated the criminal justice system, implicating politicians and senior police officials.
Social media reacts to the analysis
The article prompted a sharp backlash online, with many South Africans defending Mkhwanazi and criticising the framing of Steinberg's argument.
@St0nGh0st wrote:
"Pure garbage. How on earth, after all the testimonies and confirmed facts do you still vilify Mkhwanazi? This can't be reporting 🤞"
@_TheRuleOfLaw said:
"It's common course and, in fact, it has been reasonably established from Madlanga commission thus far that there is criminal capture of our justice system. You seem to be taking a side of Fadiel Adams, the current Idac, and other rogues. Where do you stand?"
@SiphoMT added:
"It's not Mkhwanazi's duty to perfect SAPS. It is the responsibility of very police officer to ensure safety to citizens. He did his part to route out infiltration by criminals. Are you saying he could've kept quiet?🙆♂️🤦♀️ Sometimes so-called analysts are just candle in the wind."
@XhantiPayi wrote:
"This does not read like Jonny Steinberg at all."
@TheDynamicOne3 dismissed the piece entirely, calling it:
"Nonsense article by a failed media house."
Read the responses on X here:
How July 6 press briefing shook SAPS
In a related article, Briefly News reported on the significant impact of Mkhwanazi's July 6 briefing, which exposed allegations of corruption within South Africa's police service. As investigations unfold and public trust is at stake, the repercussions of this high-stakes revelation continue to resonate across the nation's criminal justice system.
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Source: Briefly News
