Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi files R5m defamation lawsuit against Paul O'Sullivan. Image credit: EWN.
(The Post News) – KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has launched a R5 million defamation lawsuit against prominent forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan, accusing him of making false and damaging allegations.
The summons, filed at the Johannesburg High Court last week, outlines three separate instances this year where O’Sullivan allegedly defamed Mkhwanazi through various media outlets.
According to the court papers, O’Sullivan claimed that Mkhwanazi misappropriated police funds during his tenure as acting national police commissioner, accepted luxury gifts from a service provider, and had criminal ties to organised crime.
“These statements are false, malicious, and have severely harmed my reputation as a career police officer. Despite requests for a retraction and an apology, Mr O’Sullivan has refused to withdraw his defamatory allegations,” Mkhwanazi argues in his court submission.
The alleged remarks were also directed at Crime Intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo and National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola.
Mkhwanazi is seeking R5 million in damages, claiming that O’Sullivan’s comments undermined public trust in his integrity.
In a statement released on Tuesday, O’Sullivan said he would not engage in a public debate about the lawsuit. “The matter is sub judice and I will not answer questions on it in the public domain,” he said.
However, O’Sullivan added that he stood by his claims. “I have documentary evidence to back up my allegations, and I intend to place this evidence before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry,” he said.
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