South Africa (Commonwealth Union)_ In a major shake-up within South Africa’s law enforcement leadership, President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed veteran activist and legal scholar Firoz Cachalia as the country’s new Minister of Police. The decision follows explosive allegations of misconduct involving the current police minister, Senzo Mchunu, who has now been placed on special leave. The announcement came during a nationally televised address on Sunday evening, just days after Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, the Provincial Commissioner of Police in KwaZulu-Natal, publicly accused Mchunu of working alongside organized crime figures.
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In a press briefing that stunned the nation, Mkhwanazi alleged that Mchunu and other senior police officials were interfering with investigations and assisting known criminals. President Ramaphosa, who had recently returned from the BRICS summit in Brazil, had promised South Africans that he would respond decisively to the claims. As such, he confirmed Mchunu’s temporary removal and revealed that a full Commission of Inquiry will be established to investigate the matter. “This is a serious situation that strikes at the heart of our country’s justice system,” Ramaphosa said. “The allegations, if true, raise deep concerns about the integrity of our police service, the rule of law, and national security.”
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According to the president, the commission will be led by Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga and is expected to submit an interim report within three months. Among the more disturbing claims raised by Lt Gen Mkhwanazi is that Mchunu allegedly pressured police to shut down the specialized Political Killings Task Team in KwaZulu-Natal, a unit tasked with probing politically motivated assassinations. Mkhwanazi suggested that the minister may have been acting in the interests of powerful business figures, one of whom is facing murder charges.
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Ramaphosa stressed that the country cannot afford to lose public confidence in its law enforcement institutions. “We must demonstrate that no one is above the law and that our institutions are capable of holding even the most powerful to account,” he said. Stepping into the high-pressure role of Police Minister is Indian-origin Firoz Cachalia, who will formally assume office on August 1. Cachalia, a respected academic and longtime anti-apartheid activist, is currently a professor of law at the University of the Witwatersrand. Born into a family deeply involved in the struggle against racism and discrimination, Cachalia was an active figure in the resistance movement and later played a key role in the multi-party negotiations that led to South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994. He represented the Transvaal Indian Congress at the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (Codesa), helping lay the foundation for Nelson Mandela’s presidency.
Following the end of apartheid, Cachalia held several senior positions in government, including as Gauteng’s MEC (provincial minister) for Economic Development and later for Community Safety. He also served as Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature. In recent years, Cachalia has continued to work on issues of governance and integrity. He currently chairs the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council and sits on the boards of several respected civil society organizations, including the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation and the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation.
Firoz’s appointment has been widely welcomed, particularly by organizations that focus on transparency and accountability. Shan Balton, executive director of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, said Cachalia brings both credibility and competence to the role. “He has a strong background in public service and a clear understanding of the corruption challenges facing South Africa,” said Balton. “Importantly, there are no corruption allegations against him, and his academic grounding in law and governance is exactly what the country needs in this role.” With the police ministry under intense public scrutiny, all eyes are now on Cachalia as he steps into what may be one of the most challenging roles in Ramaphosa’s cabinet.
