Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za
2-minute read | 10 October 2025 | 11:45 CAT

📸 Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi appears before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee, calling for investigations into state institutions while sparking debate on media freedom.

KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, has sparked concern following comments about the media during his appearance before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee. The South African National Editors Forum (SANEF) says the remarks pose potential risks to press freedom.

Sli Khanyile, SANEF’s Media Freedom Chair, told Radio Islam International that Mkhwanazi’s statements are “very dangerous” due to his seniority and credibility in the police and security sector. “When he says something about journalists and the media, people easily believe him,” Khanyile said.

Khanyile noted that the remarks were broad and generalised the media rather than addressing specific cases. “Even when specific media houses are singled out, it’s still very general,” she said, adding that such generalisations can undermine public trust, particularly amid misinformation and disinformation. While journalists should be accountable for substantiated errors, sweeping statements can affect perceptions of the industry as a whole.

She also raised concerns about calls for heavy penalties against journalists. “Who decides when a journalist has actually erred?” Khanyile asked, highlighting the need for context, standards, and due process. She emphasised the importance of protecting investigative journalism and confidential sources. “Investigative journalism depends on people sharing information on the basis that their identity will remain protected,” she said.

South Africa remains a country where journalists can operate freely, and SANEF underlines that media freedom carries responsibility alongside the duty to hold power accountable.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant General Mkhwanazi has called on Parliament to investigate several matters, including alleged leaks of classified information and concerns over the functioning of certain state institutions, signalling a broader review of governance and accountability in the criminal justice system.

Listen to the full interview on The Daily Round-Up with Annisa Essack and Sli Khanyile.