By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
In a ceremony at the Union Buildings on Friday, Professor Firoz Cachalia was officially sworn in as South Africa’s new Minister of Police.
The Constitutional Court has cleared the way for Cachalia to be officially sworn in as police minister on Friday, 1 August.
The court dismissed Jacob Zuma and the uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party’s case against President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to place Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on leave and appoint Cachalia as acting minister.
Cachalia steps into the critical portfolio following the dramatic departure of Mchunu, who was placed on special leave last month.
The move came after explosive allegations by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who accused Mchunu of corruption, political interference, and links to drug trafficking networks.
A seasoned legal mind and respected academic, Cachalia is expected to bring integrity and stability to the embattled ministry.
His appointment comes at a time of heightened scrutiny over political influence in policing structures and mounting pressure to restore public trust in law enforcement.
In brief remarks following the swearing-in, Ramaphosa expressed confidence in Cachalia’s ability to “uphold the rule of law and lead the fight against corruption within the police ranks.”
Cachalia said: “I’ve spent my whole life concerned about the country’s political situation. When the President asked me to do this, I recognised the tremendous responsibility and I am braced for it.”
Meanwhile Parliament has named the members of parliament who will serve on the ad hoc committee to investigate allegations made by Mkhwanazi.
The parties that will sit on the adhoc committee are the ANC, MK Party, the DA, EFF, IFP, ACTIONSA, PA and Freedom Front Plus.
Some of the members include EFF leader Julius Malema, DA MP’s Ian Cameron and Glynnis Breytenbach and the ANC’s Khusela Sangoni and Mdumiseni Ntuli amongst others.
The committee will investigate allegations amongst others the alleged unlawful decision Mchunu to disband the Political Killing Task Team.
The removal of 121 case dockets from the task team, on the direction of Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya, and the moratorium by Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on filling vacancies within police Crime Intelligence Unit, will also be scrutinised.