Cape Town – Robert McBride, former head of South Africa’s police watchdog, has accused KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi of attempting to disrupt an investigation into former acting national police commissioner Khomotso Phahlane. McBride made the claims while testifying on Tuesday, 20 January 2026, before Parliament’s ad hoc committee.

McBride, who now heads the State Security Agency’s Foreign Branch, said Mkhwanazi and Phahlane “are very close” and suggested the commissioner played “an undue and prosecutable role in trying to disrupt and scuttle the Ipid’s investigation into Phahlane.” He added that Mkhwanazi had also understated his involvement with Mandla Mahlangu, an Ipid investigator who was murdered in 2020.

“From my time at Ipid, I am aware of incidents [involving] General Mkhwanazi having played an undue and prosecutable role in trying to disrupt and scuttle the Ipid’s investigation into Phahlane,” McBride said. He noted that Mahlangu, who had previously been shot at, was killed “after making incriminating statements” about a person who later testified before the committee. McBride said it was inconsistent that Mkhwanazi had not attended Mahlangu’s funeral despite being first on the scene after the shooting.

The committee is examining Mkhwanazi’s July 2025 claims that a drug cartel had infiltrated South Africa’s criminal justice system, politics, and private security. Mkhwanazi had presented himself as a whistleblower exposing corruption extending into the South African Police Service. McBride described the press conference as designed to intimidate and questioned the integrity of senior law enforcement officials.

McBride also addressed Cedrick Nkabinde, a former Ipid investigator who became chief of staff for former Police Minister Senzo Mchunu. He said Nkabinde, who once investigated Phahlane, later reversed his position during his testimony to portray Phahlane as unfairly targeted. “180 degrees is a very strange setup,” McBride said of Nkabinde, adding that he “is just a greedy person… he likes money” and had been known to buy multiple suits at a time.

The former Ipid chief reflected on his tenure leading the directorate, noting efforts to tackle systemic corruption within the police. “At the end of my tenure, there were between eight and 13 generals and about 10 brigadiers who were on trial for corruption… [It had] never been done before, [it] should have been a national emergency,” McBride said. He described corruption as “the greatest security threat to this country” and criticized prosecutors protecting criminals in uniform.

McBride also alleged that Crime Intelligence had infiltrated Ipid during his suspension in 2016, with officers prematurely closing investigations and bypassing standard procedures. “What business” did Crime Intelligence have “spying on politicians or doing their bidding,” he asked, referring to the control of secret service funds that have been linked to corruption allegations.

Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi testifies at the parliamentary ad hoc committee’s inquiry on 7 October 2025. (Photo: Gallo Images / Brenton Geach)

Tuesday’s proceedings were marked by tension over McBride’s relaxed demeanour, with EFF member Leigh-Ann Matthys saying he appeared “indifferent” and “is not taking the committee seriously.” Ad hoc committee chair Soviet Lekganyane cautioned him about his “gesticulations,” to which McBride replied that he “smiled quite easily.”