IN CONVERSATION WITH HOPEWELL RADEBE: (Office and Projects Manager at SANEF)
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KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lt-Gen. Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, has named journalists he claims are being used by rogue Crime Intelligence officers to advance specific agendas through their reporting. He said such journalists should face stringent consequences for spreading misinformation.
Speaking before Parliament’s ad hoc committee probing police criminality on Wednesday, Mkhwanazi singled out City Press journalist Abram Mashego for publishing what he described as “unsolicited” and misleading information. The Commissioner took issue with a media inquiry from Mashego regarding a supposed “legal stab” by General Shadrack Sibiya — an allegation that never materialised.
Mkhwanazi questioned Mashego’s decision to report on the claim, which he said was clearly false. He explained that he had merely shared a screenshot of a message with a colleague, which was later leaked on social media.
Calling for greater accountability in the media, Mkhwanazi urged Parliament to explore mechanisms to address journalists who publish false or misleading reports. He also warned of the dangers of unchecked media freedom. “To say that whatever they say is gospel — it’s wrong. It cannot be like that… There has been a lot of pushback indirectly through the journalists, a lot of media stories written,” he said.
When asked about journalists’ possible role in the controversy, Mkhwanazi added: “Some of those journalists who wrote bad things are starting to change their tune and connect the dots themselves.”
However, he emphasized that not all journalists were implicated, cautioning against painting the profession with a single brush.
Mashego has not yet responded to the allegations.
Speaking before Parliament’s ad hoc committee probing police criminality on Wednesday, Mkhwanazi singled out City Press journalist Abram Mashego for publishing what he described as “unsolicited” and misleading information. The Commissioner took issue with a media inquiry from Mashego regarding a supposed “legal stab” by General Shadrack Sibiya — an allegation that never materialised.
Mkhwanazi questioned Mashego’s decision to report on the claim, which he said was clearly false. He explained that he had merely shared a screenshot of a message with a colleague, which was later leaked on social media.
Calling for greater accountability in the media, Mkhwanazi urged Parliament to explore mechanisms to address journalists who publish false or misleading reports. He also warned of the dangers of unchecked media freedom. “To say that whatever they say is gospel — it’s wrong. It cannot be like that… There has been a lot of pushback indirectly through the journalists, a lot of media stories written,” he said.
When asked about journalists’ possible role in the controversy, Mkhwanazi added: “Some of those journalists who wrote bad things are starting to change their tune and connect the dots themselves.”
However, he emphasized that not all journalists were implicated, cautioning against painting the profession with a single brush.
Mashego has not yet responded to the allegations.
