Johnathan Paoli
KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has warned of a possible factional “war” after Crime Intelligence head Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo and Major-General Nosipho Precious Madondo were allegedly told to report to the Brooklyn police station in Pretoria, only for no arrests to be carried out.
Speaking outside the station on Thursday, Mkhwanazi said intelligence received by his team suggested there were efforts to ensure that he and Khumalo were “behind bars” within 48 hours.
“I wanted to see for myself. We received intelligence that IDAC (Investigating Directorate Against Corruption) was given 24-hours to bring [me] and General Khumalo to the cells. Our intelligence says there was a panic that there were warrants of arrest for IDAC officials, and that’s not true. We are facing a war,” Mkhwanazi told NewzroomAfrika.
He reiterated that the reports that warrants had been obtained against officials from the IDAC were false, saying no such investigation existed from his side.
“If there was a rumour yesterday, I’m saying again, live on TV, there’s no warrant of arrest that we have ever applied for in IDAC. In actual fact, there’s not even an investigation for that matter,” he said.
“What the intelligence received yesterday was that they have given themselves 48 hours to make sure that myself and Khumalo are behind bars because they believe that we have secured a warrant of arrest for IDAC officials. I did not believe that story because there’s no warrant of arrest from where I am, there’s not even an investigation that involves anyone from IDAC,” added.
According to Mkhwanazi, the warning appeared to gain credibility when Khumalo informed him that he had received a call instructing him to report to Brooklyn police station.
“I thought, if indeed it’s true, that means perhaps they might also be looking for me, so I might as well be close by,” he said.
The confusion deepened when Khumalo and Madondo arrived at the station accompanied by their attorney, James Ndebele, only for no arrests to be carried out.
Ndebele said both officers had been contacted earlier in the day and instructed to surrender themselves.
“I represent Lt-Generals Khumalo and Madondo. They were called earlier this afternoon, around 13:00 and instructed to surrender themselves for arrest and detention at the Brooklyn Police Station. They were informed that a warrant of arrest had been issued for their arrest,” he said.
According to Ndebele, the situation changed after their arrival.
“When they arrived here at quarter past two, I was present, IDAC was not here. They were then informed by a man who called them and informed them that he was the chief investigator at IDAC and that they would not be arrested today, due to a decision or call that came through from senior management,” he said.
Ndebele said neither officer had been informed of the nature of the alleged charges.
“What is strange though, is the fact that they were not afforded any opportunity to provide a statement of sorts. This decision has been made. I don’t know how they arrived at the decision, but my clients have been prejudiced at IDAC repeatedly hurling them at police stations,” he said.
Speaking earlier to eNCA, Ndebele described the episode as embarrassing to have an attorney instructed to attend the police station with clients, at the request of IDAC, only for them not to pitch.
In response to the growing speculation, IDAC issued a brief statement earlier on Thursday afternoon, denying that any arrests had taken place.
“The NPA’s IDAC takes note of the media reports on the arrest of the Head of Crime Intelligence General Dumisani Khumalo. We wish to set the record straight that General Khumalo has not been arrested nor has anyone else from Crime Intelligence,” the directorate said.
However, both Ndebele and Mkhwanazi questioned the directorate’s statement, saying it was odd given their account that Khumalo and Madondo had been specifically instructed to present themselves at the police station.
In June last year, Khumalo, Madondo, Maj-Gen Philani Lushaba, Maj-Gen Josias Lekalakala, Maj-Gen Zwelithini Gabela, Brig Dineo Mokwele and Brig Phindile Ncube appeared in court on fraud and corruption charges linked to the alleged irregular appointment of Mokwele within Crime Intelligence.
Khumalo, Madondo, Lekalakala, Gabela, Ncube and Mokwele were granted bail, while Lushaba initially remained in custody because his matter was treated as a Schedule 6 offence.
Khumalo later challenged restrictions barring him from Crime Intelligence premises and was reinstated as Crime Intelligence head in November 2025.
Earlier this year, Khumalo told Parliament’s ad hoc committee that a coordinated “misinformation campaign” had been launched against him as he sought to reform what he described as a lawless and corrupt division.
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