President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced the establishment of a judicial commission of inquiry into explosive claims made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, alleging that the South African Police Service (SAPS) and elements of the judiciary have been infiltrated by a criminal syndicate.
According to the President, the inquiry will investigate the South African Police Service, the National Prosecuting Authority, the State Security Agency, the Judiciary and Magistracy, as well as the metropolitan police departments of Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, and Tshwane. Interim reports are expected within three to six months.
In a related development, the President also announced that Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu will take a leave of absence during the investigation. In his place, Professor Firoz Cachalia — a law professor at the University of the Witwatersrand and chairperson of the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council — has been appointed as Acting Minister of Police.
Speaking on VOC’s Newsbeat, Lesiba Thobakgale, spokesperson for the South African Police Union (SAPU), welcomed the announcement of the commission and praised the appointment of Professor Cachalia, citing his apparent independence.
“For the fact that he is not a member of the national assembly, the fact that he is a professor, that is where we are giving support because we expect him to be independent and hope for independence in issues of policing,” said Thobakgale.
He added that he hopes Professor Cachalia will help address the political interference that has long plagued SAPS operations — interference that often results in police leadership being scapegoated.
“The national commissioners are often the ones that get sacrificed for the interests of politicians — that must stop. We cannot continue like that; such political interference cannot be normalized, and it really has to cease within the South Africa Police Service moving forward,” Thobakgale added.
Listen to the full interview here:
