Deputy Police Minister Fikile Mbalula has conceded his relationship with his boss, Nathi Mthethwa, is not rosy.

Mbalula addressed a media briefing in Parliament on Thursday, discussing issues that have placed the ministry in the spotlight in recent weeks.

It followed calls by several high-ranking officials for police to 'shoot to kill'.

The deputy minister cancelled a news conference last week, allegedly after being pressured to do so by Mthethwa.

Mbalula told Thursday's briefing there was no fight over publicity or turf. But he did admit their relationship has not been "smooth sailing."

"I'm not going to stand here and say in the normal course of our duty and doing work... that it has actually been a hunky dory relationship that is not governed by contradictions," said Mbalula.