General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has responded sharply to Member of Parliament Dianne Kohler Barnard’s demand for an apology. Testifying before the Ad Hoc Committee, Mkhwanazi addressed the incident where Barnard claimed he had made inaccurate statements about the existence of the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence. He explained that after questioning her about the matter, she went public and insisted that no such committee existed, later calling for him to apologize on national television.
Speaking firmly during his testimony, Mkhwanazi clarified that his comments were not made in bad faith but in response to misleading information that had been spread. He stated that as a senior law enforcement official, he had merely raised legitimate concerns, and it was unfortunate that the issue was turned into a public controversy rather than being handled within proper parliamentary processes.
In his response, Mkhwanazi offered what he described as a “conditional apology.” He stated, “I will apologize to the honorable member. I’m apologizing that the honorable member had forgotten the oath that she took — and that she believes that oath comes with an expiry date.” His words carried a clear undertone of criticism, suggesting that he believed Barnard had acted against the principles of accountability expected of members of Parliament.
The exchange between Mkhwanazi and Barnard highlights growing tensions between police leadership and certain political figures. Mkhwanazi’s remarks reflect his frustration with what he views as selective political memory and the tendency of some public officials to disregard their responsibilities when it suits them.