KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi says his rise to public attention has come at a personal cost, with his privacy compromised.
Speaking to eNCA at the 27th Interpol African Regional Conference in Cape Town, Mkhwanazi said constant public recognition is something he does not enjoy.
“The difficulty is that my privacy has been compromised because wherever I walk, people recognise me or want to greet me, which is not what I enjoy most,” he said.
Despite this, Mkhwanazi praised police officers in KwaZulu-Natal for their continued efforts in fighting crime, including arrests, firearm recoveries, and successful prosecutions.
His public profile grew after a July 2025 briefing where he accused suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu of interfering in investigations and having links to criminal syndicates.
The allegations led to President Cyril Ramaphosa suspending Mchunu and establishing inquiries, including a parliamentary probe into criminal infiltration in the police force.