A planned march in support of KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has been abruptly cancelled, with organisers offering no explanation for the move.
The “Hands off Mkhwanazi” demonstration was scheduled to take place in Durban on Thursday morning. It was expected to draw participants from civil society groups, the business sector, and various trade unions in a show of solidarity with the provincial police chief.
The march was organised in response to an ongoing probe by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), following an anonymous complaint. The complainant alleges that Mkhwanazi interfered in an investigation involving an official at a correctional facility in the province.
Despite the growing public interest in the case, the organisers have not disclosed why the event was cancelled.
Speaking on the matter, Mkhwanazi confirmed that IPID had withdrawn its initial letter requesting his response to the complaint. “They sent me a letter two weeks ago withdrawing the request for my response, but there has been no official confirmation that the investigation itself has been dropped,” he said.
The developments come amid increased scrutiny of police leadership in the province, with observers calling for transparency and due process in the ongoing inquiry.