KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi receives the National Press Club Newsmaker of the Year 2025 award on Friday 29 May 2026. Image: @unisaradio on x
KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi received the National Press Club Newsmaker of the Year award on Friday 29 May 2026. The Mkhwanazi Newsmaker of the Year award recognises his explosive July 2025 media briefing that changed the national conversation about corruption and accountability in South Africa forever.
Why Mkhwanazi Won the Newsmaker of the Year Award
The National Press Club presented the award in partnership with the University of South Africa. The club said the award goes beyond a single moment. It recognises sustained impact on national discourse.
“Because of you, the state of SAPS remains firmly on the national agenda. You forced the country to confront uncomfortable truths. You held the line when it was easier to look away. To this day, your stand defines what principled leadership means in and out of uniform,” the club said.
Club chairperson Antoinette Slabbert said Mkhwanazi’s statement trended every single day. Furthermore, it prompted President Cyril Ramaphosa to institute the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry. Parliament also established an Ad Hoc Committee to investigate the allegations he raised. Therefore, his impact on South African public life in 2025 was unmatched.
The July 2025 Briefing That Changed Everything
On 6 July 2025, Mkhwanazi held a media briefing that shocked the nation. He made explosive allegations of widespread corruption and political interference within the criminal justice system. He implicated senior officials including Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and Deputy National Commissioner Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya. Both have since been suspended.
He alleged that powerful criminal syndicates had successfully infiltrated the state’s security apparatus. As a result, President Ramaphosa established the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on 14 July 2025. The commission commenced public hearings in September 2025 and remains ongoing. Its term has been extended to August 2026.
A Historic Award With Historic Company
The Newsmaker of the Year award was established in 1980. It honours individuals whose actions have significantly shaped public discourse and captured national attention. Previous recipients include President Nelson Mandela, former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela and President Cyril Ramaphosa. However, the club stressed that the award is not about popularity. It is about impact — who set the agenda, sparked debate and defined the year in news.
Mkhwanazi joins that distinguished list as the 2025 recipient. His recognition reflects the extraordinary courage it took to speak out against alleged corruption at the highest levels of South African law enforcement.
What Mkhwanazi’s Recognition Means
South Africans online have responded warmly to the recognition. Commentary across social media reflects the view that Mkhwanazi’s decision to go public in July 2025 was a defining moment in South African public life. Many have described his actions as a rare example of institutional courage in a system where whistleblowers frequently face severe consequences.
Furthermore, his recognition comes as the Madlanga Commission continues its work and as multiple arrests linked to the commission’s findings have been made in recent months. Therefore, the impact of that single July 2025 briefing continues to reverberate through South Africa’s law enforcement landscape.
Editors Note All information in this article is based on official National Press Club communications and media reports as at 29 May 2026.