General Mkhwanazi 'a very close friend', Nkabinde tells MPs

Suspended Minister Senzo Mchunu’s chief of staff, Cedric Nkabinde, says he’s close friends with KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and they even travelled together on personal errands.

Nkabinde also said that Mkhwanazi helped find him a job when he was unemployed after leaving the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID).

ALSO READ: Parly hears how Nkabinde lost his job at IPID after fallout with former boss McBride

But Nkabinde said he didn’t know Brown Mogotsi until he was put in touch with him by Mchunu.

Nkabinde was giving evidence before the Parliament ad hoc committee investigating allegations of police corruption and interference.

Most of Nkabinde’s evidence so far has focused on his relationship with Mkhwanazi and Mchunu.

Mkhwanazi had earlier testified that Nkabinde drove him to Mchunu’s private residence in KZN and they were on good terms.

But Nkabinde said that while Mkhwanazi may have been angry at Mchunu and the disbanding of the political killings task team, they were still close.

"General Mkhwanazi was a very close friend of mine. I think it’s safe to say it was a boy’s trip. It’s safe to say that, otherwise he and I will get into trouble."

But Nkabinde distanced himself from Mogotsi, saying that he got in touch with him through Mchunu.

"Minister gave me Brown Mogotsi’s number for me to facilitate for him and then he, in turn, Brown Mogotsi ended up knowing me."

Nkabinde’s testimony continues, with MPs expected to question him on Thursday afternoon.

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