Economic Freedom Fighters EFF member of Parliament MP Eugene Mthethwa says South Africa will see fire should anything happen to KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
He was speaking during a joint meeting of Parliaments portfolio committees on police and justice on Wednesday 16 July.
Mkhwanazi has garnered public support after making serious allegations of political interference in the South African Police Service SAPS operations.
At a media briefing on 6 July, he alleged that the then Police Minister Senzo Mchunus decision to disband the Political Killings Task Team was influenced by a criminal syndicate. Mchunu has denied the claim.
Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi warning"The mere fact that people are on the streets before anything happens, it is a ticking time bomb, Mthethwa said.
"Should anything happen to Mkhwanazi, I want to second the very notion and the sentiment that this country will see fire. Madiba is no longer here to quell the fire that could have happened when Chris Hani died."
He was referring to the late African National Congress President Nelson Mandelas address to the nation in 1993 following the assassination of anti-apartheid leader Chris Hani. The address was widely perceived to have stopped widespread unrest.
Mkhwanazis supporters, including some organised under uMkhonto weSizwe MK Party, have held marches in Durban and Soweto to show solidarity with him.
In the joint meeting in Parliament, EFF and MK Party MPs used the refrain General Mkhwanazi is us, we are General Mkhwanazi to voice their support.
"I believe that the media briefing by Lieutenant-General Mkhwanazi is a deep outcry and desperate measure as a last report to get a hearing," Mthethwa said.