General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s Vigilance at Mall in Viral Throwback Video Sparks Praise From SA

General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s Vigilance at Mall in Viral Throwback Video Sparks Praise From SA

  • A throwback video of Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has gone viral, showcasing his alertness and professionalism
  • The clip highlights the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner's exceptional situational awareness, while he continuously surveys his surroundings
  • The public response has been overwhelmingly positive, with many praising Mkhwanazi's leadership, discipline, and proactive approach to policing, which has inspired conversations around the need for more officers to emulate his example

A throwback video of Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has gone viral, showing him being alert and highly observant while casually speaking to a man at a local shopping mall.

A video showcasing General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s vigilance at the mall sparked praises online.
A video of General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s vigilance at the mall has gone viral, drawing praise from online users. Image: Gallo Images
Source: Getty Images

This comes after the South African law enforcement official who is serving the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa as the Provincial Police Commissioner made serious allegations of political interference in police work and links to organised crime during a media briefing that took place on Sunday, 6 July 2025.

Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi vigilant at the mall

In the footage, shared on TikTok by user @thehumbletiger8 on 28 December 2024, it has gone viral on social media.

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The clip showcased General Mkhwanazi engaging in conversation with a man. While the chat appears casual on the surface, Mkhwanazi’s body language and movement reveal that he remains on high alert. Many South Africans have praised his composure, noting how he continuously surveys his surroundings while keeping his hand close to his holster throughout the interaction.

One person said the following in the comments section:

"Check his awareness, and his hand is always close to the weapon. different breed."

This isn’t the first time Mkhwanazi has drawn public admiration. Known for his hands-on approach and firm stance on crime in KZN, the commissioner has developed a reputation for being both disciplined and present on the ground.

The public response has been overwhelmingly positive, with many applauding Mkhwanazi for leading by example in terms of vigilance and professionalism.

The video sparked wider conversations around leadership in the police force and the need for more officers to emulate Mkhwanazi’s proactive approach, especially given the country’s crime levels.

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Watch the video below:

Mzansi praises Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi

South Africans were impressed by General Mkhwanazi's posture as they took to the comments section to rave about him, saying:

MB said:

"All South Africans love this policeman; criminals hate him."

User expressed:

"Tjo he's always on the alert, his hand always close to his weapon tjoo a true soldier."

Tebogo_M shared:

"Some of us don't even know the names of our provincial generals, but we know Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi."

Tiktoker wrote:

"I love how he always locates his hand."

TT1. The Transitional stated:

"Mkhwanazi is a real, authentic cop. His posture, his countenance, his persona and expression."
A video of General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s vigilance at the mall has gone viral, drawing praises from online users.
A video showcasing General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s vigilance at the mall sparked praises online. Image: Gallo Images
Source: Getty Images

President Cyril Ramaphosa will address the nation on Sunday, 13 July, to respond to Mkhwanazi’s explosive allegations against Police Minister Senzo Mchunu. In his speech, Ramaphosa is expected to acknowledge the seriousness of the claims that ministerial interference may have hampered the SAPS Political Killings Task Team, which since 2018 has investigated 612 cases, secured 436 arrests, and recovered 156 firearms linked to political assassinations.

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The presidency announced that, given the serious national security implications of General Mkhwanazi’s allegations against Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, the President wants to deal with the matter upon his return from Brazil.

"President Ramaphosa was attending a BRICS summit in Brazil on Sunday, 6 July 2025, when General Mkhwanazi outlined numerous allegations at a media briefing. The President undertook to attend to this development on his return from Brazil, in view of the implications for national security. President Ramaphosa has been seized with this matter in recent days and will, following various consultations, take the nation into his confidence"

See the X post below:

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Hilary Sekgota, Human Interest HOD at Briefly News, contributed to this article.

Source: Briefly News

Authors:
Johana Mukandila avatar

Johana Mukandila (Human Interest Editor) Johana Tshidibi Mukandila has been a Human Interest Reporter at Briefly News since 2023. She has over four years of experience as a multimedia journalist. Johana holds a national diploma in journalism from the Cape Peninsula University Of Technology (2023). She has worked at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, PAICTA, BONA Magazine and Albella Music Production. She is currently furthering her education in journalism at the CPUT. She has passed a set of trainings from Google News Initiative. Reach her at johana.mukandila@briefly.co.za

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