The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has given KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner, Lt General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi until 19 March 2025 to submit a sworn statement regarding an investigation against him.

Mkhwanazi is alleged to have defeated the ends of justice by preventing the arrest of a senior Westville prison official accused of selling drugs.

The alleged incident took place in Richards Bay in 2023.

The IPID also made a U-turn on its earlier statement that Police Minister Senzo Mchunu requested a probe into Mkhwanazi, saying the investigation was actually triggered by an anonymous complaint from the public.

“IPID has requested the Provincial Commissioner to submit a sworn statement by 19 March 2025… IPID maintains that although it receives complaints and tip offs from various sources, its investigations remain independent and impartial. 

“The investigation is still in its infancy stages, and IPID will only engage on the matter once the investigation is concluded,” the IPID said in a statement.

It also clarified that the investigation was not initiated by the Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, as previously reported. 

“It should be noted that the letter written to Lt – General Mkhwanazi, by IPID’s Acting Head of Investigations, that the Police Minister requested IPID to investigate the Provincial Commissioner, was erroneously written. This investigation is as a result of an anonymous complaint from the public,” the IPID added. 

Mchunu welcomed the correction and said the police are preoccupied with fighting crime. He added that Mkhwanazi is doing just that in KwaZulu-Natal.

“The Ministry supports all Provincial Commissioners in their efforts,” Mchunu said in a statement.