KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has been assigned to a national initiative aimed at strengthening the fight against organised crime, while assuring residents that his responsibilities in the province will remain a priority.
Mkhwanazi confirmed his expanded role on Friday during the opening of a new forensic laboratory in Durban’s Mayville area. He said the national assignment will focus on coordinating efforts to combat organised criminal networks across South Africa.
Speaking at the same event, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli expressed concern that the additional duties could impact policing efforts in the province, noting that crime levels have shown improvement in recent months under Mkhwanazi’s leadership.
“I am worried that General Mkhwanazi has a new task and that it may interfere with the strength we have in the province,” Ntuli said.
Mkhwanazi, however, moved to reassure both the premier and residents that provincial policing operations would not be neglected. He said his role in the national programme would complement, rather than replace, his ongoing responsibilities in KwaZulu-Natal.
“I am here to deliver service, and I will ensure we continue doing so, whether I am working full-time in the province or partially from the national office,” he said. “The task I have been given is to help coordinate the fight against organised crime nationwide. KwaZulu-Natal is also affected.”
Mkhwanazi’s contract as provincial police commissioner was recently renewed in March for a further five years.
The announcement came as authorities officially unveiled a new forensic laboratory in Durban, handed over by Public Works Minister Dean Macpherson.
The facility consolidates several forensic units that were previously spread across different locations in KwaZulu-Natal. It is expected to significantly improve the efficiency of criminal investigations.
The province’s previous forensic infrastructure was severely affected by flood damage, which forced some DNA testing and analysis to be outsourced to Pretoria. Police say this contributed to delays of up to six months in forensic results, slowing down prosecutions.
Drug-related cases were particularly impacted, with some suspects released due to delays in forensic processing.
Officials say the new facility will reduce turnaround times, safeguard evidence, and strengthen the overall success rate of criminal prosecutions in the province.