Incoming Police Minister Cachalia to address 'highly unusual' explosive allegations with Mkhwanazi

Soon-to-be acting Police Minister Professor Firoz Cachalia says he will meet with KZN police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi to discuss his "unusual" but “serious” allegations of political interference in police operations and protection of criminals.

Cachalia, who is set to take over the Police Ministry in August after retiring from the University of the Witwatersrand, made these remarks during an interview with broadcaster Newzroom Afrika.

On Tuesday, President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Gwede Mantashe as acting Minister of Police, while he retains his role in Mineral and Petroleum Resources.

This follows explosive allegations in which Mkhwanazi accused Deputy Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya of colluding with information dealer Brown Mogotsi and Mchunu to dismantle the KwaZulu-Natal political killings task team. 

He claimed Mchunu disbanded the unit in March, halting 121 active dockets tied to political murders. 

Mkhwanazi presented WhatsApp messages, SAPS documents, and cellphone records as evidence.

Mchunu, in a December 2024 letter to Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, stated that the unit had “outlived its usefulness.” 

However, Masemola has since denied dissolving the unit.

In response to the scandal, President Ramaphosa placed Mchunu on special leave and established a Judicial Commission of Inquiry.

Sibiya was also placed on special leave by Masemola while an internal police investigation proceeds.

When asked whether Mkhwanazi overstepped his role by publicly airing the allegations, Cachalia acknowledged the seriousness of the situation.

“I think when I meet him, I will say to him, I will ask him, because his decision to call that press conference was highly unusual.”

“Certainly, in the ordinary course of his duties and responsibilities, a person in his position should not act in that way,” he said.

“But in the circumstances that he found himself in, he decided that he needed to make these allegations public.”

“They're very serious…and if it turns out that there was merit to these allegations, then we will be able to see in retrospect that he was perfectly justified in doing what he did,” he added.

IOL News previously reported that Cachalia said he could hear his mobile phone ringing, but he ignored the incessant incoming calls as he was glued to the television, watching the Wimbledon final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday.

On Tuesday, Cachalia relived the time he finally answered the phone call by the Presidency, and Ramaphosa informed him about the epic appointment into Cabinet.

"It was Sunday. I was relaxing, watching sport, Wimbledon, and I was looking forward to football. I have a loft upstairs where the phone was being charged and it has a very slight ring tone. I heard the ringtone from time to time but I ignored the call because I was charging the phone. It turns out that the Presidency had been trying to get hold of me for much of the day," Cachalia spoke to broadcaster Newzroom Afrika.

"Eventually, they got hold of my brother, Justice Cachalia, he called, but I was ignoring the phone actually. I am not gonna be able to do that anymore. Then they got hold of my wife, and my wife happened to be sitting with me in the lounge, watching the tennis with me. From then on, we were able to understand that the president was trying to get hold of me. 

“I believe at around 6 or 6:30 (pm) he got hold of me and explained to me that he was going to appoint me in this portfolio. I had to explain to him that in fact I am currently the director of the Mandela Institute at Wits in the law school, and that I was retiring in the institute at the end of this month, which is why he had to make the appointment effective from August," he said.

The 66-year-old said once Ramaphosa informed him of the appointment, there was no hint of hesitation on taking up the new challenge.

“It was a surprise of course, I didn't expect something like this. I have been an academic for, I think, 15 years or so, after serving about 15 years in the Gauteng government. Before that, from a very young age, I gave my all really to the priority which was always political change in the country.

"To be appointed in this portfolio is a great honour for me. I am very appreciative that the president has expressed some confidence in my ability. I do feel humbled, slightly daunted, but I am going to tackle the challenge with all my energy,” Cachalia said.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

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