“If you don’t have anything to hide, you can’t be stopping police to do their work,” stated Col Robert Netshiunda, reflecting the sentiments surrounding the recent legal developments involving Calvin Mathibeli.
On March 19, 2026, the Durban High Court dismissed Mathibeli’s application to interdict police from conducting a firearms compliance inspection at his company, Calvin and Family Security Services. The court ruled that Mathibeli’s application lacked urgency and ordered him to pay legal costs to the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Mathibeli had sought to prevent the police from inspecting his premises, claiming harassment and intimidation by law enforcement. This comes amid ongoing tensions between him and KZN Provincial Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who has been a vocal critic of Mathibeli.
The compliance inspection was part of ‘Operation Buyisa’, a nationwide initiative aimed at reducing gun violence and ensuring compliance within private security companies. Authorities flagged significant discrepancies during the inspection, noting that Mathibeli’s company reported 815 firearms, while police records indicated 857 firearms.
During the inspection, police discovered a firearm register filled in with pencil instead of ink, raising further concerns about the legitimacy of Mathibeli’s operations. The police indicated that the number of firearms reported did not match their records, prompting further scrutiny.
Mathibeli had received prior notice from the police on March 11 regarding the scheduled inspection, indicating that law enforcement was prepared to address compliance issues within the security sector.
In a related legal matter, Mathibeli lost a defamation case against Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, which added to his legal woes. He was ordered to retract statements made against Mkhwanazi, further complicating his standing in the community.
Col Netshiunda emphasized, “We are not here to look for anything sinister, it is pure police work,” reinforcing the police’s commitment to ensuring compliance and safety in the region.
The outcome of this inspection and the ongoing legal challenges faced by Mathibeli will likely have significant implications for his business operations and his relationship with law enforcement.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding any further actions that may be taken by either party following this inspection.
