KZN provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi
Image: Tumi Pakkies Independent Newspapers
LIEUTENANT-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi's contract as KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner has been renewed, receiving strong support from Community Police Forums who believe his leadership will enhance community-police relations and combat crime effectively.
On Sunday afternoon, SAPS Commissioner General Fannie Masemola met KZN police management and KZN Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli, to formally present Mkhwanazi as KZN police commissioner for the next five years, IOL reported.
Mkhwanazi thanked Masemola for trusting him and said, “It was not an easy decision for me because I had agreed with my family that I would only serve one term. The plan was to go on a holiday from April 1, but when the National Commissioner emphasised the importance of service to the people of South Africa, especially residents of KwaZulu-Natal, I reconsidered and made myself available to be of service to the nation.
“To my fellow colleagues, I am expecting nothing less than full cooperation and support. The goals remain the same: to reduce crime, to attain a clean audit and ensure that our clients are satisfied with our service to them.”
Reacting, KZN CPF secretary Siyanda Biyela said Mkhwanazi was familiar with the tools and necessary actions, and that work must continue to maintain provincial stability.
“We have seen that the provincial commissioner has helped immensely in restoring hope to the people of KZN that they can work with the police. We’ve seen police being encouraged to work and many police officers in KwaZulu-Natal seem to be much more active in working with the community.”
Biyela also said that Mkhwanazi’s arrival has helped them start discussions between the police and the community.
He explained that it was the provincial CPF’s call to Mkhwanazi to accompany the provincial commissioner and his management to imbizos (community meetings).
“He then took that call and instructed all his station commanders to hold monthly imbizo sessions, to talk to the community, to update them on existing cases and issues, and on the cases they have opened so that they can get feedback.
"Above all, to assist each other and advise the police on policing the areas where they live, in conjunction with the CPFs,” Biyela said.
“We believe that his way of working, of wanting to work closely with the CPF and the community, is one of the things that makes us comfortable that we can achieve a lot with him and his management in KwaZulu-Natal.”
eThekwini District Policing Board chairperson Aidan David said the reappointment of Mkhwanazi was what the community needed.
“When we have a just and honest leader, who is not afraid of fighting crime, the way we as a community want crime to be fought, we have to support that,” David said.
Amanzimtoti CPF deputy chairperson Gary Kelly expressed the CPF’s ongoing support for efforts to combat crime and corruption in KZN.
“As a CPF, we have consistently raised concerns regarding the high levels of crime affecting communities across KwaZulu-Natal. In this context, we welcome and commend this re-appointment. It is our considered view that Lt Gen Mkhwanazi has initiated a decisive and visible drive aimed at identifying, confronting, and eliminating corruption and organised criminal activity within the province,” Kelly said.
Durban North CPF public relations officer Darryl Oliver said the Durban North CPF is delighted to hear Mkhwanazi has renewed his contract.
“His tough, no-nonsense approach to criminals, as well as corruption in the SAPS, is something that needs to continue,” Oliver said.
Malvern CPF chairperson Kevin Pillay said they support and welcome Mkhwanazi’s contract renewal, which is necessary and deserved.
“We, as the CPF, have consistently supported the Lt-General under the banner of Operation 6 (meaning ‘we have your six’/ ‘we got your back’), which has strengthened collaboration and focused crime prevention efforts at the community level,” Pillay said.
“Mkhwanazi has demonstrated decisive, results-driven leadership and a firm commitment to addressing crime across the province, with tangible outcomes on the ground.”