Southern African Bishops decry rot in police force, demand urgent independent probe

Pretoria, South Africa: Sheila Pires – The Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) has raised the alarm over the deteriorating state of the country’s law enforcement, stating that “for far too long, confidence in the Police Force and other law enforcement agencies has been severely undermined by allegations of grave corruption, toxic work environments, lack of accountability, and political factionalism.”

The statement, issued on 10 July 2025 by SACBC President Cardinal Stephen Brislin, comes in response to explosive revelations made by KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner, Lt. General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, during a press briefing on 6 July.

While acknowledging that not all sides of the “contentious issue” have been heard, the Bishops described the public nature of the allegations as “deeply unsettling and, from several angles, a matter of national security.”

They warned that Mkhwanazi’s claims risk plunging public confidence in the police to new depths. “The allegations raised by Lt. Gen. Mkhwanazi will deepen the layers of negativity around police work, its wider human rights culture, and its ultimate efficacy,” the statement said.

The Bishops are calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa and other authorities to act swiftly:
“It is imperative that the issues he raised be afforded immediate and impartial attention.”

The SACBC also insisted on the establishment of a credible and independent body to investigate both the specific allegations and broader systemic failures. “It is of the utmost importance that an independent body be mobilised immediately to investigate these allegations as well as broader issues around police leadership and performance,” the Bishops said.

In a direct appeal to national conscience and the principles of justice, the Bishops declared:
“In the light of the seriousness of these allegations and for the integrity of the police force and confidence in its work, it is of the very highest importance that the President and those concerned take urgent and definitive action to investigate the allegations, bring to book those who have broken the law, transgressed the rule of law and undermined the public’s confidence in the police force.”

Background to the Crisis

The Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference’s urgent call for accountability comes amid a deepening scandal within South Africa’s law enforcement leadership.

At the centre of the storm is Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who has been accused of having ties to criminal gangs and interfering in police investigations into politically motivated killings.

These allegations were made by KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner, Lt. General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, during a televised press briefing on Sunday, 6 July 2025. According to Gen. Mkhwanazi, Minister Mchunu received financial backing from an allegedly corrupt businessman, Vusimuzi Matlala, to support his “political endeavours.”

Minister Mchunu has denied the accusations, dismissing them as “wild allegations,” while President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged the matter as a “grave national security concern” and assured the public that it was “receiving the highest priority attention.”

Gen. Mkhwanazi detailed what he described as a calculated effort to disband a specialised task team established in 2018 to investigate the targeted killings of politicians in KwaZulu-Natal. He claimed the disbandment was “orchestrated” to derail investigations that had uncovered links between high-profile politicians, police officials, and a drug cartel syndicate.

“When he dissolved the unit earlier this year,” Gen. Mkhwanazi stated, “Mchunu said it was not adding value in the province, despite many cases remaining unsolved.”

The police commissioner further alleged that 121 case dockets were removed from the unit at the instruction of Minister Mchunu — without authorisation from the national police commissioner, Gen. Fannie Masemola.

“These case dockets have, since March, been sitting at the head office ever since without any investigation work done on them. Five of these dockets already had instructions to [effect] arrests,” Mkhwanazi revealed.

To substantiate his claims, Gen. Mkhwanazi presented copies of text messages and payment records allegedly showing that Vusimuzi Matlala, a controversial businessman and police service contractor, had been financially supporting Mchunu’s political ambitions. Matlala’s police contract was cancelled in May following his arrest for attempted murder.

Meanwhile, the top ranks of SAPS intelligence are also under fire. Last month, Lt. Gen. Dumisani Khumalo, the national head of police intelligence, was arrested on fraud and corruption charges. He is among seven individuals linked to a wider investigation into misuse of intelligence funds and unlawful appointments within the South African Police Service.