Malema Extends Invitation to Mkhwanazi to Join EFF
Natalie Nyathi
In the wake of explosive allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi against police management and the judiciary, EFF leader Julius Malema has publicly offered Mkhwanazi a position within the EFF should he be removed from his current role.
Mkhwanazi recently revealed the findings of an investigation by the Gauteng organized crime unit, which allegedly uncovered a syndicate involving politicians, law enforcement, metro police, correctional services, prosecutors, and the judiciary, purportedly controlled by drug cartels and businesspeople. These allegations have led to President Cyril Ramaphosa establishing a commission of inquiry and Parliament agreeing to form an ad hoc committee to investigate the matter.
Addressing supporters at the EFF Turns 12 rally in Khayelitsha, Malema declared his party’s unwavering support for Mkhwanazi. According to The Citizen, Malema stated, “Fighters, we are General Mkhwanazi, and General Mkhwanazi is us. We support Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. We are not ashamed of Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.”
Malema went further, extending an invitation to Mkhwanazi to join the EFF. “To Mkhwanazi, do not be shaken, because if they fire you, there is a position for you in the EFF so that you can continue to fight corruption in South Africa,” Malema said. He also called on other members of the police force to follow Mkhwanazi’s example and “come out and fight crime and the syndicates that have captured the police and our country.”
Malema emphasized the EFF’s commitment to fighting drug syndicates, stating, “We will not sit back and allow our country to be controlled by drug syndicates.”
Malema has long been a proponent of Mkhwanazi’s tough-on-crime approach and has even advocated for his promotion to national police commissioner. Malema also stated that Mkhwanazi was a hero for exposing the rot in the SA Police Service and the alleged political interference that led to the suspension of Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.
Malema’s public invitation to Mkhwanazi has sparked varied reactions. While some view it as a show of support for a whistleblower facing potential repercussions, others question whether Mkhwanazi, a career officer, would align himself with the EFF’s political ideology. As Mkhwanazi’s contract nears its end in December 2025, his next steps remain uncertain.
