Mkhwanazi on Mthethwa's political interference: 'The worst I ever experienced'

During his testimony before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry two weeks ago, KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi accused Nathi Mthethwa of politically interfering in policing matters.

News of Mthethwa’s death broke on Tuesday, after his body was found at a hotel in Paris.

Investigations surrounding the circumstances of his death are ongoing.

Mthethwa, who was serving as South Africa’s ambassador to France, previously served as the minister of police at a time when Crime Intelligence was under public scrutiny.

During his testimony at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, Mkhwanazi accused Mthethwa of halting criminal prosecutions into former Crime Intelligence head, Richard Mdluli, back in 2011.

Mdluli was accused of abusing his powers by misusing the Crime Intelligence slush fund.

At the time, Mthethwa was police minister and Mkhwanazi was the acting national police commissioner

Mkhwanazi claims Mthethwa accused him of forcing the former inspector-general of intelligence, Advocate Faith Radebe, to write a letter to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to institute criminal action against Mdluli.

"The minister says to me that I forced the inspector-general of intelligence to write a letter to say this matter must go to court."

Mkhwanazi said when he attempted to refute the claims, Mthethwa shut him down.

"He simply said we must stop prosecuting Mdluli, we must stop disciplinary case against Mdluli. If you talk about political interference, that was the worst I ever experienced."

Mkhwanazi claimed that shortly after the meeting with Mthethwa, he stepped down as acting police commissioner.