By Thapelo Molefe
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has urged National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola to expedite the renewal of provincial police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s contract, saying delays are creating uncertainty as his term nears its end this month.
The provincial government said the correspondence followed an earlier engagement on 31 December 2025, during which Ntuli backed the renewal of Mkhwanazi’s contract, which is due to expire at the end of March 2026.
“The delay in finalising the process has begun to create uncertainty among members of the public and key stakeholders,” Premier spokesperson Lindelani Mbatha said in a statement.
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Under Section 207(3) of the Constitution, the national commissioner appoints a provincial commissioner with the concurrence of the provincial executive, meaning Ntuli’s support is required but does not itself complete the appointment.
Ntuli said stable leadership in the police service remained critical to KwaZulu-Natal’s safety, stability and socio-economic development, particularly as the province continues to grapple with serious crime, including political killings and extortion.
“The Commissioner’s role has been pivotal in addressing KwaZulu-Natal’s high crime rates, including political killings and extortion. I have consistently maintained that there is no basis not to recommend a police officer of the calibre of Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi to continue with the important work he is doing,” Ntuli said.
He said continuity in leadership was needed to consolidate gains made against crime in the province.
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“Lieutenant-General Mkhwanazi’s discipline, work ethic, and unwavering commitment to ethical and accountable policing reflect the values and expectations of both the Provincial Government and the people of KwaZulu-Natal,” Ntuli said.
The premier’s intervention comes after Masemola told Parliament on Tuesday that the process to extend Mkhwanazi’s contract was under way and that the final details were being concluded.
Masemola also told the ad hoc committee investigating allegations of political interference and capture of the criminal justice system – which were first made by Mkhwanazi in an explosive press briefing last year — that Mkhwanazi would remain KZN commissioner, and that the decision had the backing of the provincial government.