KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has been named Newsmaker of the Year 2025, receiving recognition at the National Press Club in Pretoria.

In his acceptance speech, Mkhwanazi emphasised that his role as a senior police officer is guided by duty, discipline and his constitutional oath rather than public recognition or media attention.

He warned that South Africa is at a critical crossroads where corruption, incompetence and organised crime continue to weaken public institutions and erode trust in the state.Mkhwanazi stressed that the country cannot normalise corruption or protect poor performance within government and law enforcement structures.He further cautioned that institutions risk becoming more afraid of exposing the truth than confronting criminal activity itself.

According to him, a capable state cannot exist where institutions are compromised or influenced by political convenience, public pressure or personal interest.

He reflected on a media briefing held on 6 July 2025, stating it was not intended as self-promotion but rather an act of duty rooted in accountability and service to the public.

Mkhwanazi also called for a comprehensive national “reset” that includes all sectors of society, from government departments and municipalities to the private sector, judiciary, civil society and the media.

The provincial commissioner dedicated the award to hardworking and ethical SAPS members who continue to serve under difficult conditions, often facing intimidation and limited resources.He praised officers who remain committed to justice, integrity and public safety despite challenges.

Mkhwanazi concluded by stating that history will judge leaders not by titles or awards, but by whether they defended truth, protected the vulnerable and placed the country’s future above personal interest.