KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi personally led a large-scale multidisciplinary operation in the Durban CBD on Friday night, targeting illegal firearms, drugs, and undocumented foreign nationals .
The raid focused on Dr Pixley kaSeme Street in the Point area, with police conducting suspect raids, liquor outlet inspections, and stop-and-searches . The operation included officials from the Department of Home Affairs and inspectors from the Department of Employment and Labour .
More than 100 arrested
According to SABC News, over 100 undocumented foreign nationals were arrested during the operation, which also targeted hijacked buildings in the city centre . The multi-agency approach reflects intensified efforts to address crime and immigration violations simultaneously.
Public praise for Mkhwanazi
Pictures of Mkhwanazi in full tactical gear, personally leading his officers on the ground, went viral on social media, drawing widespread public acclaim . South Africans flooded comment sections with praise, with one user calling him “our very own Terminator” and another remarking: “He doesn’t send them. He goes with them. What a legend” .
The operation follows Mkhwanazi’s recent high-profile testimony before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, where he implicated senior officials in an alleged criminal cartel infiltrating the justice system .
Recent successes
This Durban raid comes amid a string of policing successes under Mkhwanazi’s command. Earlier this week, a multidisciplinary team arrested Minenhle Mthembu, 30, in Mtubatuba—a suspect wanted for the 2022 assassination of Gauteng businessman and corruption whistleblower Marumo Eric Phenya . Mkhwanazi warned that “KwaZulu-Natal province is not a hiding place for criminals,” urging communities not to harbour fugitives .
The provincial commissioner has also recently ordered the removal of Hawks head Major-General Lesetja Senona amid ongoing investigations .
Friday night’s operation reinforces Mkhwanazi’s hands-on approach to policing, which continues to earn him significant public support across the province .