In a move raising serious questions about transparency within the South African Police Service (SAPS), the official SAPS Twitter account has deleted a tweet that had earlier announced a media briefing by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
The now-removed tweet was the only formal public confirmation from SAPS that Mkhwanazi would be speaking—a briefing in which he went on to make explosive allegations of high-level political interference, criminal syndicates infiltrating law enforcement, and deliberate sabotage of critical investigations.
The deletion has sparked widespread speculation and fueled growing fears of a coordinated cover-up, especially as Mkhwanazi’s statements implicate powerful figures, including Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya.
Critics are now questioning whether SAPS is attempting to distance itself from the commissioner’s revelations, suppress public access to critical information, or shield implicated individuals from scrutiny. The timing of the deletion—soon after Mkhwanazi’s disclosures began circulating—has only intensified public distrust.
As calls grow louder for independent investigations and accountability, the SAPS silence and social media scrubbing are doing little to calm public concern. Instead, it’s amplifying the perception that those meant to protect the public may be protecting something else entirely.
