Gangsters in SAPS? Mkhwanazi makes explosive claim

KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi says some senior police officers may have entered the SAPS with a history of gang involvement.

Mkhwanazi made the remarks as Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police examined possible solutions to gang violence during proceedings on Wednesday, 19 August.

“We have generals, perhaps, that are currently in the police who grew up as members of gangs,” he said.

He questioned how thoroughly recruits are vetted before entering the police and other parts of the criminal justice system.

Mkhwanazi questions police recruitment

Mkhwanazi said gang involvement often starts at a young age, raising questions about whether those backgrounds are picked up during recruitment.

He did not identify any officers or provide evidence that serving generals currently belong to gangs.

His comments formed part of a wider discussion about how gangs operate and where the state’s response is falling short.

LIVE | Lt-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi tells the Police Portfolio Committee: "We have Generals that are currently in the police, who grew up as members of gangs, and then you trust that they will come with solutions." pic.twitter.com/07W2bnb8xS

— SABC News (@SABCNews) August 19, 2026

Prisons also under scrutiny

He also took aim at the correctional system, saying prisons can strengthen rather than break gang networks.

“Our correctional facilities are the breeding grounds of crime and gangs,” he said.

He said people can enter prison without gang affiliations and become exposed to organised gang structures while incarcerated.

That creates another challenge for police when offenders return to their communities.

Follow the money

Mkhwanazi said tackling gang violence also requires investigators to look beyond the people carrying out crimes.

He pointed to the money and networks behind organised crime, including the resources available to gang leaders when they enter the criminal justice system.

The Gang-Related Violence Summit brought together law enforcement and other stakeholders as Parliament examines South Africa’s response to gangsterism.

The issue remains particularly acute in the Western Cape, where gang violence continues to affect several communities.