Former acting national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane has commended KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi for publicly exposing corruption within the criminal justice system.
Testifying before Parliament’s ad hoc committee on Wednesday, Phahlane said Mkhwanazi’s decision to speak out was justified, as internal reporting had previously failed to trigger action. He noted that Mkhwanazi had raised concerns in Parliament earlier without result, and that it took his July media briefing to launch formal inquiries like the Madlanga Commission.
Phahlane questioned why the national police commissioner did not address the issues internally instead of waiting for parliamentary intervention. He also drew parallels to his own past grievances involving former IPID head Robert McBride and private investigator Paul O’Sullivan.
“It is on that basis that I am saying Mkhwanazi did the right thing by speaking out on issues of serious concern. Because he did, we finally have the platform to address them,” Phahlane stated.
The ad hoc committee was established largely in response to Mkhwanazi’s allegations of criminal infiltration in law enforcement and political interference.