KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli addresses the media following the contract renewal of KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi as provincial police commissioner. Back: SAPS Commissioner General Fannie Masemola and Mkhwanazi.
Image: SAPS
The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, has confirmed he will lead the province’s police force for an additional five years. His renewed mandate focuses on three core pillars: drastic crime reduction, financial accountability, and improving public trust in police services.
A Reconsidered Retirement
General Mkhwanazi admitted that the decision to extend his tenure was difficult, as he had originally intended to serve only a single term before retiring to spend time with his family.
“Thank you National Commissioner for the trust. It was not an easy decision for me because I had agreed with my family that I will only serve one term. The plan was to go on a holiday from 1 April but when the National Commissioner emphasised the importance of service to the people of South Africa, especially residents of KwaZulu-Natal, I reconsidered and made myself available to be of service to the nation,” he said.
KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi who has just renewed his contract for another five years, has urged full cooperation from KZN police as he continues leading, focusing on crime reduction, community involvement, achieving a clean audit, and ensuring residents are satisfied with police services.
Image: SAPS
The Road Ahead: Audits and Accountability
Looking toward the next five years, Mkhwanazi issued a clear directive to his colleagues, demanding full cooperation to meet the SAPS's strategic goals. He emphasised that operational success must be matched by administrative excellence.
“To my fellow colleagues, I am expecting nothing less than full cooperation and support. The goals remain the same; to reduce crime, to attain a Clean Audit and ensure that our clients are satisfied with our service to them,” Mkhwanazi added.
National Leadership Weighs In
The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), General Fannie Masemola, formally announced the extension during a high-level meeting with KZN provincial management. Masemola noted that the announcement ends a period of leadership uncertainty in the province.
He urged officers to rally behind Mkhwanazi, stressing that effective policing is impossible without the active involvement of the public.
“Do not police communities in their absentia. Involve them in your plans, give them roles to play so that they may take accountability of crime in their neighbourhood. The community must feel you, both criminals and law-abiding citizens. Now that the uncertainty is gone, the focus must solely be on reducing crime and keeping our communities safe,” Masemola said.
Key Objectives for the New Term
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