By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has named minister of mineral and resources Gwede Mantashe as the acting minister of police until the end of July 2025.
Ramaphosa made the announcement on Tuesday evening, stating that Mantashe will oversee police matters while retaining his existing portfolio in mineral and petroleum resources.
The appointment comes as part of a transitional arrangement until the anticipated assumption of office by Professor Firoz Cachalia at the beginning of August.
In a short statement released on Tuesday night, the Presidency said Mantashe will act as Police Minister until Professor Firoz Cachalia assumes the position at the start of August.”
In a late-night address on Sunday, Ramaphosa announced that Cachalia would act in the position in accordance with section 91 subsection (3)(c) of the Constitution which grants the president the authority to appoint a maximum of two ministers from outside the National Assembly.
Mantashe’s appointment as Acting Police Minister is in line with section 98 of the constitution.
The provision prescribes that the President may assign to a cabinet member any power or function of another member who is absent from office or is unable to exercise that power or perform that function.
South Africa is plagued by violent crime including one of the highest recorded murder rates in the world, while corruption is blamed — alongside mismanagement — for handicapping economic growth that has been anemic for the past 15 years.
Meanwhile Presidency expects Ramaphosa to finalise his decision concerning Higher Education Minister Dr Nobuhle Nkabane.
This comes after Ramaphosa ordered Nkabane to cancel a trip to China — when she was already in the departure lounge at OR Tambo International Airport.