Top Cop Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi Implicated in Shocking Torture, Arson and Kidnap Case
KwaZulu-Natal’s provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, and several police officers are at the centre of explosive allegations involving kidnapping, torture, arson, perjury, and illegal cross-border extradition.
The accusations are outlined in a confidential police report and a detailed affidavit submitted by one of the alleged victims, Mozambican national Esmael Maulide Ramos Nangy.
Authorities, including the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid), have launched investigations into the alleged misconduct, which some say may implicate the uppermost ranks of South African law enforcement.
Also Read: Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi Exposes Alleged Network of Corruption Linking Politicians and Law Enforcement
Businessman Kidnap Accusations Collapse
The controversy stems from the September 2024 abduction of Durban businessman Zak Desai, who accused Nangy, Setefane Pereira da Costa Brites, and Samkeliso Mlotshwa of kidnapping him and demanding R35-million in ransom.
However, on January 22, 2025, charges were unexpectedly withdrawn, raising red flags. Nangy and his co-accused now allege that their arrests were not only unlawful but that they were victims of severe abuse, orchestrated by senior officers and aided by private security operatives.
Gunpoint Arrest and Brutal Torture Alleged
According to Nangy’s affidavit, the ordeal began in November 2024 near Benoni when unmarked cars forced his vehicle off the road. Armed men – allegedly SAPS officers and private security – abducted and blindfolded them without producing any warrant.
The pair were transported to a private Houghton home, where they were stripped, beaten, and tortured. Nangy claims he was choked, electrocuted, and subjected to genital mutilation using garden shears. When he refused to unlock his iPhone, a plastic bag filled with water was placed over his head until he complied.
“They beat and tortured me, including genital torture with garden shears,” he said in the affidavit. Nangy alleges the assailants also threatened his wife during a forced phone call, demanding she locate another suspect or face fatal consequences.
High-Level Involvement and Repeated Abuse
According to the confidential police report, Lt-Gen Mkhwanazi personally confronted the accused on a farm near KwaDukuza on December 9, 2024. The report claims that in the presence of the complainant’s family, Mkhwanazi allegedly told a co-accused officer, “You should have committed suicide,” before further torture ensued.
One suspect had to be hospitalised from injuries. Meanwhile, Nangy’s Mercedes-Benz was allegedly impounded, but later found burnt in Pietermaritzburg, despite being logged as SAPS property — suggesting deliberate arson.
Missing Evidence, Burnt Homes, and Calls for Prosecution
In addition to the burnt vehicle, a suspect’s home in Matsulu was also torched during a police raid, according to the report. Nangy claims SAPS officers also raided his Midstream home without a warrant, seized property, and detained his wife.
Despite legal efforts, his confiscated belongings remain missing, including two iPhones, luxury watches, R18,000 in cash, and the destroyed vehicle.
The internal police report recommends criminal charges against the officers involved, including:
- 3 counts of torture
- 2 counts of arson
- Kidnapping, obstruction of justice, and illegal extradition
- Violation of constitutional rights
The whistleblower behind the report warned:
“If formal charges are laid, I will seek protection, as this matter implicates high-ranking individuals within SAPS.”
Ramaphosa Orders Commission of Inquiry
When contacted, Ipid spokesperson Lizzy Suping declined to comment, citing a broader inquiry: “President Cyril Ramaphosa has instituted a commission to investigate allegations involving police services and other law enforcement agencies,” she said.