Julius Malema criticises Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi: ‘I am not scared of you’

EFF leader Julius Malema has hit back at KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, saying he is too sensitive and does not accept criticism, and expects people to only speak positively about him.

Malema’s remarks follow Mkhwanazi’s testimony before a parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee earlier this month.

During his testimony, Mkhwanazi said he had been introduced to Malema through the head of police crime counterintelligence, Major General Feroz Khan. 

He also claimed Malema had arranged a meeting between himself and suspended deputy national police commissioner Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya in an attempt to broker peace.

Malema was not present at the committee session due to a bereavement. 

He had taken leave to attend the funeral of a family member, Martha Motlanalo Malema.

In an interview on The Clement Manyathela Show on Radio 702 on Thursday, he criticised Mkhwanazi, saying he behaved as though he could not be challenged.

“Firstly, he is very sensitive. He thinks he can’t be criticised or that people must only say good things about him,” Malema said.

He added that he would address the allegations formally when he appears before the Ad Hoc Committee.

Malema also accused Mkhwanazi of unnecessarily dragging the EFF into matters unrelated to the party, particularly references to Khan’s attendance at an EFF event.

“He throws the EFF into issues where it is not necessary,” Malema said.

He added that Khan should instead have been commended for his work, including stopping corrupt officers from stealing drugs.

Malema further criticised Mkhwanazi for raising issues about him in his absence.

“He spoke badly about me when I was not there. I was at home mourning. That is a concern,” he said.

He also described Mkhwanazi’s tone before MPs as “condescending.”

“He speaks as if he is our boss.”

Malema denied any wrongdoing and said politicians should not be intimidated by police.

“We will not be pushed around by a police officer. We have not broken the law,” he said.

Addressing comments about acting deputy national commissioner for crime detection Lieutenant General Hilda Khosi Senthumule, Malema said his remarks had been misinterpreted. 

He maintained that he had merely pointed out her qualifications for a potential national commissioner role, while warning that associations with criminal elements could damage a career.

Malema suggested Mkhwanazi had taken offence because he was not endorsed for the same position.

He also disputed claims about how their meeting came about, insisting that Mkhwanazi had initiated contact through Khan to discuss progress in the murder case of rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes, who was killed in Durban in February 2023.

According to Malema, Mkhwanazi told him during that meeting that suspects had been arrested on unrelated charges and that further evidence was still being finalised in the AKA case. 

He also alleged that Mkhwanazi expressed concerns about interference from then police minister Bheki Cele.

Malema said he later repeated some of these claims publicly, including remarks about national police commissioner General Fannie Masemola’s alleged lack of technical skills, which he said were based on information provided during that meeting.

“He told me that in that meeting you can ask Khana about it, you can ask Vuyani (Pambo - EFF MP) about it. That’s when I was confident to say it in public because it came from a credible cop. He said the national commissioner doesn't know how to send an email and he has surrounded himself with female generals because he's scared of male generals who are going to challenge him because he's got no capacity,” Malema said.

Meanwhile, former EFF member Mbuyiseni Ndlozi has called for Mkhwanazi to be protected from what he described as “petty” attacks.

Malema dismissed Ndlozi’s comments, saying he stood by his statements and was not afraid of Mkhwanazi.

“He must know I am not scared of a policeman,” Malema said. 

“He must stop dragging my name.”

Malema also criticised Mkhwanazi’s handling of a legal dispute involving businessman Calvin Mathibeli, arguing that he should have recused himself to avoid a perceived conflict of interest.

The KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Durban recently ordered Mathibeli to apologise and retract allegations that Mkhwanazi was corrupt or involved in illegal killings. 

Judge Sanele David Hlatshwayo interdicted Mathibeli from repeating claims that the commissioner abused his authority or acted unlawfully.

The ruling followed an urgent application by Mkhwanazi after Mathibeli accused him of harassment, intimidation and illegal raids. 

Mathibeli had alleged that police unlawfully searched his properties, seized firearms without proper documentation and mistreated his family and staff. The court order bars Mathibeli from publishing such claims.

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