Community Policing Forum spokesperson Siyanda Biyela has stated that KwaZulu-Natal can expect more results in the fight against crime under the continued leadership of Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. This follows the official renewal of Mkhwanazi’s contract as provincial police commissioner for another five-year term, confirmed over the weekend.
Biyela said the contract renewal will strengthen ongoing efforts to combat crime in the province. The development comes after a period of speculation and uncertainty surrounding Mkhwanazi’s position, which intensified following a high-profile media briefing he held on July 6.
National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola addressed the matter during a recent media briefing, stating there was no hesitation on his part regarding the renewal of Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi’s contract. The renewal was formally confirmed by KZN Premier Thami Ntuli after consultations with the national commissioner.
In interviews with community safety structures, representatives expressed strong support for the decision. A spokesperson from the neighborhood watch described Mkhwanazi’s performance as “extremely amazing” and said they were “very excited” about his second term, anticipating new changes and continued progress.
The neighborhood watch representative defended Mkhwanazi’s leadership style against criticism that it has sometimes been “heavy-handed.” “Heavy-handed according to who?” the representative asked, adding that criminals should not expect a soft approach. “You can’t fight fire with water sometimes; you need to fight fire with fire.” They argued that previous liberal and democratic approaches to policing had not worked, while Mkhwanazi’s methods have proven effective.
Community structures highlighted several collaborative projects with the provincial police under Mkhwanazi’s leadership. Key initiatives include the school safety project and campaign, launched earlier this year, which aims to counter criminals targeting schools and recruiting children. Other efforts involve cleanup projects in neighborhoods and townships, cutting overgrown vegetation to improve visibility and safety, and cooperation with councillors to install better lighting in affected areas.
National Commissioner Masemola has noted reductions in various crime categories in KZN during Mkhwanazi’s first term, with the province ranking third nationally in the reduction of murder-related crimes.
Despite the positive developments, challenges remain. The neighborhood watch spokesperson mentioned issues such as a lack of acknowledgement and involvement from some other community safety structures. They expressed hope that Mkhwanazi’s open-door policy in his second term would improve communication and collaboration, allowing community groups to share information more effectively with SAPS.
“If we are going to be faced with such challenges, that speech [about communities helping the police] is now nearing redundant,” the representative said, stressing the need for mutual engagement to achieve greater results.
Community safety partners indicated they look forward to working alongside Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi during his renewed term, building on the strides already made in enhancing safety across KwaZulu-Natal.