Mkhwanazi targets ‘Big Five’ with national crime-fighting project

KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, has been appointed to head a new national crime-fighting initiative focused on dismantling organised syndicates across South Africa.

The so-called “Big Five” cartel has emerged as a key target in KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s expanded crime-fighting mandate, as he prepares to lead a new national anti-crime project.

“This was not a syndicate involved in ordinary criminality. They planned to capture government structures,” Mkhwanazi said. “We cannot allow people with money to control politicians and law enforcement in order to target rivals. We are working to stop that, and we will neutralise them very soon.”

Mkhwanazi was speaking on the sidelines of the opening of a SAPS Forensic Science Laboratory in Mayville on Friday. 

His new role will see him expand his responsibilities beyond KwaZulu-Natal, overseeing a multidisciplinary team made up of intelligence and law enforcement units.

“I’m going to be moving up and down and trying to coordinate both. It’s quite a lot of work… As time progresses, we’ll see how feasible it is to do both,” he said.

The team, which has already begun its work, will focus on high-level organised crime, drug syndicates, and irregular tenders.

Mkhwanazi added that a counter-intelligence unit will monitor deployed members to prevent possible infiltration.

His appointment follows explosive allegations he made in July 2025, when he accused senior police officials, as well as members of the executive and judiciary, of colluding with organised crime networks.

BREAKING NEWS | KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi will soon be leading a national crime-fighting project.

This will focus on organised crime in all forms, countrywide.

He has given an assurance that the province of KZN will still be in good hands,… pic.twitter.com/jiFqA4UFkx

— Dasen Thathiah (@DasenThathiah) April 17, 2026