KZN Hawks boss says Mchunu put pressure on him to implicate Mkhwanazi in police shootings

Deenadayalan Govender, head of the KwaZulu-Natal Hawks unit, testified before the Madlanga commission on 21 August 2026 that suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu had pressured him to implicate KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi in 172 extra-judicial killings attributed to the police. Govender recounted a meeting on 20 August with Mchunu's associate, Mavuso Ntandani, during which he was allegedly urged to falsely accuse Mkhwanazi of authorizing the shootings. According to Govender, the conversation included assurances from Ntandani that Mchunu would protect him if he complied. During the meeting, Ntandani reportedly handed the phone to Mchunu, whose voice Govender recognized as he urged him not to allow others to "ruin the country." The hearing included playback of two phone calls made in the days leading up to Govender’s appearance before the commission. In one call, Ntandani told Govender that Mchunu had said, "Don’t die for other people’s matters; you can pull out." Another message conveyed that Mchunu had assured Govender that even the president knew he was going to testify and that he should not let anyone down. These statements were part of a broader effort, according to Govender, to pressure witnesses into implicating Mkhwanazi, a strategy he claimed was mirrored in earlier parliamentary inquiries. Govender confirmed that he had previously informed Mkhwanazi of the pressure he faced from the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) to implicate the commissioner. Mkhwanazi, in turn, advised him to document all interactions with Mchunu’s associates. Despite personal admiration for Mchunu, Govender expressed frustration that someone in a position of authority could not be truthful about such grave matters. He emphasized that Mchunu had not explicitly instructed him to "throw Mkhwanazi under the bus," though the implication remained clear. Following Govender’s testimony, Mchunu denied the allegations, stating he had never directed Govender to falsely accuse Mkhwanazi. However, Govender also mentioned that Mchunu’s associates indicated that acting national police commissioner Puleng Dimpane had attempted to contact him on Mchunu’s behalf. It was alleged that Dimpane had issued a seven-day notice to Mkhwanazi to respond to questions regarding a June press briefing in Pretoria. This notice came after Mkhwanazi addressed the media following reports that Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo was facing potential arrest by the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (Idac). Mkhwanazi had publicly declared a "war" within the police and warned that "blood will flow." Multiple witnesses have already testified before the Madlanga commission, asserting that Mkhwanazi had authorized extrajudicial killings carried out by a police hit squad operating on behalf of rival criminal factions. These claims suggest a deeper entanglement between high-ranking police officials and organized crime networks. The commission’s focus on these allegations highlights the gravity of the situation and the potential for systemic corruption within the police force. The implications of Govender’s testimony are significant, placing Mchunu at the center of a potentially explosive controversy. If substantiated, the allegations could lead to a major shakeup within the police hierarchy and raise questions about the integrity of key officials. The Madlanga commission continues its inquiry, with more testimonies expected to shed light on the extent of the alleged misconduct and the roles of those involved. As the investigation unfolds, the public awaits further developments that could reshape perceptions of law enforcement accountability in South Africa.