South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday, 13 July 2025, announced the new appointment of Professor Firoz Cachalia as the incoming acting Minister of Police, starting his duties in August.
Cachalia is replacing Senzo Mchunu, who has been placed on leave following explosive allegations of corruption at the highest levels of law enforcement.
This comes as Ramaphosa announced a judicial commission of inquiry to probe claims by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lt. Gen. Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi that senior police officials and politicians colluded with criminal syndicates.
“These allegations, if proven true, threaten to undermine the confidence of South Africans in the ability of the South African Police Service to protect them and to effectively fight crime and corruption,” Ramaphosa warned.
The president said the commission, chaired by Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, will investigate claims of syndicate infiltration into the police, intelligence, judiciary, and other justice institutions. It will deliver interim findings after three and six months and a final report thereafter.
The president urged citizens and law enforcement members to cooperate with the commission and support its efforts to restore integrity to South Africa’s security services.
