Max Makhanya apologised before arrest

Controversial TikTok personality Max Makhanya deleted a video targeting KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and apologised before he was arrested at an MK Party rally on Sunday.

In a subsequent video, Makhanya said he removed the clip after a conference call with South African Police Service (SAPS) management.

He said police management had explained that officers were doing everything in their power to root out criminal elements within SAPS.

However, the apology did not prevent his arrest.

KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said Makhanya was arrested at the MK Party’s final election rally at Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu on Sunday.

Netshiunda said the arrest followed an investigation into a video posted on Makhanya’s TikTok account.

Police allege that the video contained elements of crimen injuria and incitement to commit violence.

The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Task Team opened a case after examining the video’s contents and tracing Makhanya to the stadium.

He is expected to appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court on Monday.

The arrest has brought renewed attention to Makhanya’s history of controversial social-media content.

In April 2025, he attracted outrage among traditional leaders after posting videos questioning King Misuzulu kaZwelithini’s legitimacy and making claims about the Zulu royal succession.

He also attracted controversy over allegations that he had targeted the leadership of the Shembe Church’s eBuhleni faction, led by Mduduzi Nyazilwezulu Shembe.

In August this year, he was involved in social-media attacks against Shembe. He subsequently maintained that he would not insult the religious leader.

His latest confrontation involved Mkhwanazi, whose public profile has grown following his allegations of criminal infiltration within South Africa’s police and political structures.

The police have not publicly detailed the specific statements they regard as incitement to violence.

The distinction is important because offensive or insulting speech does not automatically amount to a criminal offence.

The allegations will have to be tested against the actual contents of the video and the applicable law.

Makhanya remains entitled to the presumption of innocence.