KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has found himself at the center of an investigation by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID). The probe, announced in March, stems from allegations that Mkhwanazi interfered with the arrest of a senior Correctional Services official in Richards Bay in 2023. Despite the scrutiny, Mkhwanazi remains resolute, asserting that "the truth will always come out."

In an exclusive interview, Mkhwanazi expressed his belief that the timing of the investigation was suspicious. He noted that the probe was initiated shortly after he cleared Crime Intelligence Counter and Security Head Feroz Khan during a disciplinary hearing in March.

Khan had faced allegations related to a 2021 Johannesburg cocaine bust, but Mkhwanazi ruled that the evidence against him was insufficient. Mkhwanazi suggested that the investigation into him might be a retaliatory move by those dissatisfied with his decision to exonerate Khan.

The IPID investigation has sparked widespread debate among the public, political parties, and civil organizations. While some view the probe as a necessary step to uphold accountability, others see it as a politically motivated attack on a law enforcement leader who has made significant strides in combating crime in one of South Africa's most violent provinces.