President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a change to South Africa’s national security leadership, placing Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on leave of absence with immediate effect.
Firoz Cachalia, a former MEC for Community Safety in Gauteng, will be installed as acting police commissioner while Mchunu is away.
Cachalia, who is currently a professor of law at the University of the Witwatersrand and chairperson of the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council, will start his stint as acting police commissioner at the beginning of August 2025, Ramaphosa announced.
Immediately after Ramaphosa’s address, Mchunu released a statement saying he “welcomed” the president’s decision to place him on forced leave.
” I stand ready to respond to the accusations against me and account to the citizens of the Republic, fully and honestly so,” Mchunu said in the statement.
Commission of inquiry into SAPS
Prior to announcing Mchunu’s leave of absence on Sunday evening at the Union Buildings in Tshwane, Ramaphosa also announced a commission of inquiry, stemming from allegations of criminal infiltration in the South African Police Service (SAPS).
“To address these allegations and the implications of these allegations, I am establishing a judicial commission of inquiry chaired by Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga.
“Justice Madlanga will be assisted by Advocate Sesi Baloyi SC and Advocate Sandile Khumalo SC.
“The commission will investigate allegations relating to the infiltration of law enforcement, intelligence and associated institutions within the criminal justice system by criminal syndicates,” Ramaphosa said.
The president said he expected interim reports from the commission at the three- and six-month points of its work.
“The final report of the commission will be sent to the speaker of the National Assembly and the chief justice,” Ramaphosa said
Genesis of the inquiry and action against Mchunu
Last Sunday, KwaZulu-Natal SAPS commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, revealed that the political killings task team [which Mchunu wanted to be disbanded in December 2024] had uncovered a syndicate, involving politicians, police officials and others, that is controlled by a drug cartel in Gauteng.
Mkhwanazi also accused Mchunu of political interference in investigations, as the police minister had reportedly ordered the task team to be disbanded and the withdrawal of 120 case dockets.
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