A senior South African police official has described the Umzinyathi District in KwaZulu-Natal as a “university of crime” known for producing professional killers. Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi pointed to broken family structures, cultural practices, and social neglect as factors driving young men into a life of crime.
According to the commissioner, these young men are often recruited as hired assassins for political murders, taxi violence, and organized crime. An underground economy of violence offers payments ranging from R5,000 for intimidation to hundreds of thousands of rands for high-profile assassinations. This “blood money” has corrupted community values and normalized violence.
Mkhwanazi confirmed that investigations repeatedly show gunmen arrested for contract killings often come from the Umzinyathi district. He stated that police cannot solve the problem alone and urged communities to reject the glorification of violence.
The situation highlights broader national challenges with organized crime and political violence. Civil society groups are demanding immediate action, including more police, youth employment programs, and a crackdown on recruiters.
The commissioner’s comments have drawn mixed reactions. Some support his focus on family structures, while others argue that systemic poverty and unemployment are the root causes. The opposition DA party has called for urgent police reform and greater investment in law enforcement.