Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi: Nathi Mthethwa pushed SAPS to advertise in Gupta-owned newspaper
Nathi Mthethwa urged SAPS to support the Gupta newspaper, The New Age, according to Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi
Image: File
KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has lifted the lid on alleged political interference within the South African Police Service, implicating former police minister Nathi Mthethwa and members of the Gupta family.
Mthethwa, who later served as South Africa’s ambassador to France, died in Paris last week. His death has cast a fresh spotlight on his years in government, particularly his tenure as police minister under former president Jacob Zuma — a period frequently dogged by allegations of political interference in the country’s security structures.
Appearing before Parliament’s ad hoc committee in Cape Town, which is investigating corruption and maladministration within the police service, Mkhwanazi alleged that Mthethwa once pressured him to drop disciplinary action and criminal investigations against former Crime Intelligence boss Richard Mdluli. He told MPs that Mthethwa’s instructions were presented as “orders from above,” and that his refusal to comply created friction with senior political leaders.
Mkhwanazi further claimed that Mthethwa had introduced him to representatives of the Gupta family and encouraged him to place SAPS advertisements in their newspaper, The New Age, instead of established national publications like City Press and Sunday Times.
According to Mkhwanazi, Mthethwa's suggestion was justified under the guise of “transformation,” but he viewed it as improper interference in police operations.
"I did not know about the Guptas before, until the Sheraton Hotel in Pretoria, when I was invited to meet this gentleman by the late minister (Mthethwa), who said, do not use City Press and Sunday Times to advertise. We always advertise posts in those newspapers because they have got a big footprint in the country. If we are looking for something, we advertise in those newspapers," said Mkhwanazi.
"The minister said, do not use those newspapers because they are not helping, they do not want to transform, and so forth. Use The New Age. I thought maybe we need to rotate papers, maybe The New Age must have an opportunity. I did not even know what is The New Age. Then I went to the office, and when I presented this to the management, they said to me, do you know who owns The New Age? They said it is the Guptas."
He said at the time, he had no idea of the Gupta controversies, but the SAPS management informed him that the family was implicated in political scandals.
The veteran officer, who once served as acting national commissioner after the suspension of Bheki Cele, said he received no support from then-president Jacob Zuma during his disputes with Mthethwa.
Mkhwanazi’s remarks have reignited debate about political meddling in the police service during the height of the Guptas’ influence in government and business, shedding new light on the internal pressures that shaped policing decisions during that period.
jonisayi.maromo@iol.co.za
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