bodyContent (Rich Text): The ongoing legal battle between KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and prominent forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan has intensified, with O’Sullivan dismissing the R5 million defamation lawsuit filed against him.

Mkhwanazi alleges that O’Sullivan made damaging and false claims that tarnished his reputation as South Africa’s top provincial police official. The lawsuit, lodged in the Johannesburg High Court, seeks substantial damages.

O’Sullivan, known for his anti-corruption investigations, has rejected the claims, insisting that his remarks were made in the public interest. He argued that Mkhwanazi is “not the knight in shining armour” that some have portrayed, and that accountability within South Africa’s policing structures remains crucial.

Legal experts note that the case could set an important precedent for freedom of expression versus defamation law in South Africa, particularly when it involves public figures in positions of authority.

The outcome of the court battle is expected to draw significant public attention, given both men’s high-profile roles in policing and justice matters.