Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has reportedly instructed the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) to stop contacting him directly, insisting that any requests for meetings be made through his official support staff.
According to News24, the KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner declined repeated attempts by IDAC head Advocate Andrea Johnson to arrange a meeting, saying the requests were not made through formal channels. Mkhwanazi reportedly told the agency: “Don’t call me directly… call my support staff if you want to meet.”
The development marks the latest chapter in an increasingly strained relationship between Mkhwanazi and IDAC, which has intensified following the arrest of Crime Intelligence boss Dumisani Khumalo and disagreements over the handling of high-profile corruption investigations.
Johnson has maintained that her office made several attempts to engage Mkhwanazi in the interest of cooperation, but those overtures were rebuffed. The police commissioner, however, is said to have insisted that any future engagements must be initiated through official administrative channels rather than personal communication.
The dispute comes amid heightened public scrutiny of relations between the South African Police Service and IDAC, with both institutions playing central roles in ongoing investigations into alleged corruption and misconduct within law enforcement.
Observers say the disagreement reflects broader tensions over accountability, investigative independence and communication between key state institutions. While neither side has indicated that formal cooperation has broken down entirely, the latest exchange underscores the increasingly fragile relationship between the provincial police leadership and the anti-corruption directorate.
Despite the friction, both SAPS and IDAC remain legally obligated to cooperate in matters relating to criminal investigations and the fight against corruption. The outcome of the standoff could influence how future engagements between the two institutions are managed as several sensitive investigations continue to unfold.
