Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi sues forensic investigator Paul O'Sullivan for R5 million over defamation claims

Police Commissioner Sues Investigator for R5 Million Over "Criminal" Claims

KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has initiated a R5 million defamation lawsuit against prominent forensic investigator Paul O'Sullivan. The legal action comes in response to O'Sullivan's persistent public declarations, in which he has repeatedly branded Mkhwanazi a "criminal" and called for his suspension from the South African Police Service (SAPS).

The controversy began after Mkhwanazi made damning allegations against Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and deputy national police commissioner, Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya. In the wake of those claims, O'Sullivan publicly spoke out against Mkhwanazi, triggering the current lawsuit.

O'Sullivan's History of Confrontation

This is not the first time O'Sullivan has faced legal action over his behaviour. Last month, Athol Trollip, the Chief Whip of ActionSA, filed criminal charges against the investigator, claiming that he threatened and intimidated him. Trollip filed a complaint at the Central Police Station in Cape Town, alleging that O’Sullivan had sent him several threatening text messages that interfered with his ability to perform his duties in parliamentary oversight.

Trollip said that O’Sullivan's behaviour was a direct attack on an elected official, and he was of the view that this type of behaviour ought to be addressed legally. He read out one message which he said came from O'Sullivan.

"I have been looking at your misinformed attacks on me on social media because someone forwarded them to me. You are clearly an arrogant fool who doesn’t have a clue what’s going on. Mkhwanazi is one of the biggest criminals that ever wore a police uniform; his crimes, when they are finally exposed, will shock the nation. Best part is, unlike you, you are in receipt of my taxpayer rand. I don’t get a single cent, then he said you attacked me personally on social media as if you’re Mkhwanazi’s right-hand man, which means that you must be supporting his criminal conduct. Either that, you are far too stupid to know a criminal when you see one," the message read.

Speaking to the SABC, Trollip defended his actions, stating that he was simply doing his job as a public representative. "All I was doing, as a public representative and member of Parliament, was calling for the allegations, both his and Mkhwanazi’s, to be investigated. If that intimidates him and elicits this kind of response, it’s absolutely melodramatic," he said at the time.

Meanwhile, a query was sent to O'Sullivan regarding the lawsuit, but there was no response by the time of publication.