Deputy National Commissioner Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya has firmly denied allegations by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who accused him and Police Minister Senzo Mchunu of complicity in a syndicate linked to drug cartels and business figures. The claims, aired on 6 July 2025, allege the syndicate has infiltrated South Africa’s criminal justice system, particularly in Gauteng, sparking a public feud within the South African Police Service (SAPS).
The controversy stems from Mchunu’s December 2024 directive to disband the KZN Political Killings Task Team, established in 2018 to probe politically motivated murders. Mkhwanazi alleged the team uncovered ties between politicians, police, prosecutors, and a drug cartel, citing WhatsApp messages and forensic cellphone analysis involving Mchunu’s associate, Brown Mogotsi. He claimed 121 case dockets, including five ready for arrests, were shelved, undermining efforts against organised crime.
Sibiya called the allegations “baseless lies,” accusing Mkhwanazi of acting like a “warlord” and vowed to consult his lawyers. Mchunu, campaigning in Vryheid, KZN, dismissed the claims as “wild” and promised a public response soon.
President Cyril Ramaphosa labelled the allegations a “grave national security concern.” Political parties, including the DA, ActionSA, and EFF, demanded parliamentary debates. The EFF noted the task team’s 120 convictions and 1,800 years of jail time, now at risk. ActionSA called it a “deepening crisis” in SAPS leadership.
Mkhwanazi said the task team remains active, investigating the syndicate’s influence, which he linked to drugs driving youth violence and high-profile killings. The South African Police Union and civil society urged probes, while some warned Mkhwanazi risks disciplinary action.
Amid recent arrests of senior Crime Intelligence officials, this dispute highlights concerns over systemic corruption and public trust in SAPS. The nation awaits Mchunu’s response.
