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In acting on KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s explosive accusations against Police Minister Senzo, President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced Prof. Firoz Cachalia as the new police boss.
Ramaphosa, on Sunday evening during his family meeting, placed Mchunu on a special leave of absence, with immediate effect, pending a commission of inquiry into allegations that he’s embroiled in interference in the work of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Cachalia - is a non-member of parliament and former MEC for Community Safety in Gauteng – will take over as minister in August after he retires from academia.
He also serves in various executive management roles, such as the South African Student Solidarity Foundation for Education (SASSFE). The ANC, the Ahmed Kathrada Trust, and he is also a board member for Corruption Watch.
The Constitution empowers the president to appoint two people to his Cabinet from outside the National Assembly.
The president also announced a commission of inquiry to be chaired by acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga to probe Mkhwanazi's bombshell accusations that Mchunu interfered with sensitive police investigations and colluded with criminals and to disband the political killings task team in KZN.
He said the allegations against the police and related agencies are serious and raise concerns around the Constitution, rule of law, and national security.
“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. South Africans are concerned about corruption and the rise of criminality in our country, which manifests itself in the killing of innocent people, gender-based violence, gang violence, kidnappings, construction mafia criminality, and many others,” said the president.
In a statement released by his office, Minister Senzo Mchunu has accepted the president’s decision and given his full support for the judicial commission.
“I welcome and respect the President’s decision and pledge my commitment to the process. Honour and integrity are the virtues I personally subscribe to and which we all need to make efforts to uphold. I stand ready to respond to the accusations against me and account to the citizens of the Republic, fully and honestly,” said Mchunu.
