KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has alleged that the Presidency intervened in policing matters to benefit the private company Richards Bay Minerals (RBM), a minerals giant. He made the claims while testifying at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on Thursday.
Mkhwanazi said RBM experienced several threats against its executives, including the murder of their general manager, Nico Swart, in 2021. In response, he deployed a team of detectives to assist in investigating the murder cases.
“After a year, I recalled the detectives back to KZN’s provincial head office in Durban as a cost-saving measure. They continued investigations from my office,” Mkhwanazi told the commission.
He alleged that following the redeployment, he received a call from National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola, who conveyed a directive from the Presidency:
“‘I received a complaint from the Presidency. You must send those people back there,’” Mkhwanazi said, quoting Masemola.
The Madlanga Commission was established by President Cyril Ramaphosa after Mkhwanazi’s explosive briefing on 6 July 2025, where he claimed the criminal justice system in Gauteng was being controlled by senior police officials and politicians in collusion with drug cartels and criminals.
Mkhwanazi’s testimony highlights ongoing concerns about political interference in policing and investigations, raising questions about the independence of law enforcement in South Africa.
