By Johnathan Paoli
Parliament’s ad hoc committee investigating corruption and political interference within the South African Police Service (SAPS) resumed hearings on Tuesday following a stormy adjournment, with KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi delivering explosive testimony that shook the chamber.
“Crime Intelligence has been leasing safe houses… You’ll be shocked to learn who they belong to, and there’s never been issues about that,” Mkhwanazi told MPs.
“Don’t misplace it. If you take it into a different structure, this country is going to burn. They were branded as bad people. They kept quiet. If there would be a press briefing, it would be worse than what I am doing here.”
His words set the tone for a day of fiery revelations, including allegations of the misuse of SAPS’ secret fund, political cover-ups, and systemic efforts to suppress investigators who exposed wrongdoing.
Mkhwanazi painted a picture of a police service where accountability was sacrificed for political expediency and loyalty.
Among his most startling claims was that money from the police’s covert fund was used to build a perimeter wall at the home of the late ambassador to France and former police minister, Nathi Mthethwa.
“That was money from Crime Intelligence… nobody was held accountable, but reports are there,” he told the committee.
“We’re seeing the homestead of the late ambassador Nathi Mthethwa on TV now, and there’s a boundary wall — that wall was built using Crime Intelligence funds. No one has ever been held accountable for it. Back in 2011, we raised all these concerns. It’s members of Crime Intelligence who divert the money and use it to gain influence over the executive. The minister at the time, Mthethwa, never asked for that wall — but this is how they operate: they use such projects to control the minister so they can later loot the funds.”
Mkhwanazi also took aim at analyst Mary de Haas, who had lodged complaints against his Provincial KwaZulu-Natal Task Team (PKTT).
“I want to challenge this committee to invite Mary de Haas to come and sit on this chair. I think she is a desktop researcher,” he said.
He lamented the deep divisions within SAPS, saying officers who had uncovered critical evidence in high-profile cases were sidelined, while those aligned with senior figures were rewarded.
“These members who did all this work got nothing. But members that were led by Gen Sibiya were rewarded, including Sibiya himself,” he testified, citing the Lusikisiki massacre investigation as an example.
Mkhwanazi also recounted tense interactions with senior political figures, including a final conversation with Cedrick Nkabinde, chief of staff to Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.
“The last heart-to-heart talk we had with him was in Birchwood Hotel,” he said.
Tensions flared among MPs over the handling of Mkhwanazi’s witness statement.
The session was briefly halted when some members objected to him taking an oath, arguing that his written testimony was a supplementary statement rather than an original submission.
Committee chair Soviet Lekganyane later confirmed that the dispute had been resolved after consultations.
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema cautioned the committee to adhere to agreed procedures and time limits.
“If you’re going to allow them to ask questions, we will also ask questions. Don’t do that. We agreed that each member is going to get 30 minutes tomorrow,” he said.
MK Party MP David Skosana, speaking separately, emphasised that the inquiry was not a box-ticking exercise.
Mkhwanazi further hinted that those who once obstructed his corruption probes are now under investigation.
“All these people who played a role in shutting down my investigations are being investigated right now. I hope that soon we will effect arrests and be in court,” he said.
The hearings come after Mkhwanazi appeared before the Madlanga Commission, where he first revealed many of these allegations.
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