KZN top cop Mkhwanazi calls for major reforms in vetting of police officials

KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has called for major reforms in the vetting of police officials to prevent any bad apples from entering the service.

He said the police should follow the lead of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), which conducts thorough lifestyle audits on its own officials.

Mkhwanazi said that Parliament could also consider introducing new vetting legislation, like it did with the Hawks.

Mkhwanazi was giving testimony on the first day of hearings before the Parliament’s ad hoc committee investigating police corruption on Tuesday.

"The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) legislation was amended to say any members of the Hawks that come in must go through this process. People like myself are not subjected to that. As a matter of fact, honourable members, a majority of us don’t take even security clearance certificates and reason being there’s manipulation in the police. The people that are controlling this vetting will make sure they don’t give it to you."

Mkhwanazi’s testimony will continue on Wednesday morning.