police-minister-firoz-cachalia-vows-open-minded-approach/">Professor Firoz Cachalia was sworn in as Acting Minister of Police today, following his appointment by President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier this month. He replaces Senzo Mchunu, who was placed on immediate leave after allegations of corruption and political interference surfaced. KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi accused Mchunu of disbanding the Political Killings Task Team and redirecting 121 active investigation dockets to National Deputy Commissioner Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya, where they were allegedly neutralised.
Opposition parties have questioned the constitutionality of Cachalia’s appointment, arguing that an acting minister cannot be appointed from outside Cabinet. The uMkhonto weSizwe Party’s legal challenge was dismissed by the Constitutional Court on Thursday.
The GOOD Party urged Cachalia to prioritise intelligence-led policing in gang hotspots and support community-based violence prevention strategies, such as conflict mediation and social work programmes. Party secretary-general Brett Herron called for integrated safety planning, urging Cachalia to hold provinces and municipalities accountable for their policing resources and foster collaboration between the South African Police Service (Saps), metro police, and social development agencies. “South Africans need safety and justice, not another power struggle,” Herron said.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) described Cachalia’s role as a “mammoth task,” citing low public trust in Saps, political interference, and systemic corruption. DA spokesperson Ian Cameron called for independent audits of senior Saps leadership, implementation of the Saps structure signed in May 2025, and a review of the Saps Act with input from oversight bodies and civil society. The DA also demanded an end to lengthy paid suspensions, reinstatement of internal disciplinary units, and merit-based appointments.
The African National Congress (ANC) expressed confidence in Firoz Cachalia, highlighting his experience and credibility.
Cachalia’s appointment comes at a critical time, with Saps facing challenges including under-resourced stations, overwhelmed detectives, and vacant leadership positions. His tenure will be closely watched as South Africans demand tangible improvements in safety and justice.
