Acting police minister: Who is Feroz Cachalia and is he qualified?
As the country prepares for a commission of inquiry into explosive allegations against Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, President Cyril Ramaphosa has handed the reins of the police ministry to law professor Firoz Cachalia.
Ramaphosa appointed Cachalia as interim police minister on Sunday night following his decision to place Mchunu on an immediate 'leave of absence' after allegations of links to organised.
With Cachalia expected to take over the reins of the police ministry, here are a few things you need to know about him.
Who is Feroz Cachalia
Cachalia, born in Benoni on 22 July 1958, is a globally-regarded scholar, Professor of Law at Wits University, and director of the Mandela Institute. His expertise spans constitutional law and many other areas of specialisation.
Formerly an anti-apartheid activist in the Transvaal, he first joined the Gauteng Provincial Legislature in 1994, representing the ANC, serving as Speaker of the provincial legislature from 1999 to 2004.
Cachalia is a veteran of the liberation movements and also part of the well-known and politically active Cachalia family.
ALSO READ: Ramaphosa's decision to place Mchunu on leave of absence 'an illusion of reform'
Career
His brother is Judge Azhar Cachalia, and his cousin is the former DA MP Ghaleb Cachalia, among many other family leaders.
After leaving the provincial government, he was appointed as a law professor at Wits University and, since 2022, as the chairperson of the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council.
Cachalia was Gauteng MEC for Community Safety from 2004 to 2009, which gives him some experience in police and security management.
He was also the MEC for Economic Development from 2009 to 2010.
Police experience
The EFF has rejected Ramaphosa's decision to appoint Cachalia, who is not a current member of Cabinet.
'This is a direct violation of Section 98 of the Constitution, which states: 'The President may assign to a Minister any power or function of another Minister who is absent or otherwise unable to fulfil the functions of office,'' the EFF said.
The Constitution, however, does allow for two ministers to be appointed from outside of Parliament, which may allow Cachalia to act in the role going forward.
Feroz's brother, Azhar, was unavailable for comment when contacted by The Citizen; however, his cousin, Ghaleb, defended Feroz.
'Feroz is well qualified to take on this position. He has a track record in public safety, and his qualifications in law are standing in good stead'
Hands full
However, he does admit that Feroz will have his hands full.
'The problem is not Feroz necessarily, the problem is the systemic corruption in both ANC and the police, and that is going to be difficult to deal with. You know, a commission of inquiry has been instituted, but we know what has happened with commissions of inquiry. We saw the Zondo Commission and the results, which have not been particularly useful in terms of prosecution and conviction.
'I wish him well and I hope that he is able to attend to the portfolio as best as he can,' Ghaleb said.
When does he start?
Ramaphosa said he would soon announce a caretaker minister until Cachalia retires from academia at Wits University at the end of July, and can then step into the position in August to act as police minister during Mchunu's leave of absence.
ALSO READ: MK party wants Mchunu arrested amid explosive allegations
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
2 hours ago
- The Citizen
Call for people-driven National Dialogue
Former leaders and foundations must step back, say experts, urging citizens to take control of South Africa's National Dialogue. The National Dialogue is in the wrong hands and should not be led by President Cyril Ramaphosa, former president Thabo Mbeki or the legacy foundations, according to two experts. Rather, they should all back off because it's time for ordinary citizens to take control and be heard. It was time for the VIPs to take a back seat and let the people speak. Time for VIPs to take a back seat in National Dialogue Prof Lesiba Teffo and Dr Levy Ndou say the current stayaway by seven legacy foundations and leading political parties will open space for civil society and grassroots people to take over the process. They said the state should just provide resources, such as logistics and funding, and take a back seat to let people talk among themselves about the kind of South Africa they want. Teffo said the country is facing so many crises because leaders across the board have failed the country. ALSO READ: National Dialogue: Ramaphosa urges citizens to embrace differing views There is poverty, landlessness, immigration chaos, crime, unemployment and no economic growth. The policies they jointly approved in the pre-1994 talks are directly responsible for the current state of the country, he said. Teffo said the current immigration and land crises were due to the failure to address the issues at the multiparty constitutional talks at the Convention for a Democratic South Africa. Leaders came with no solution for SA's problems 'We are in this because of these leaders, some of them were presidents, but they came with no solution for the country's problems. 'Now they want to sit at the front table and tell us that they have a solution,' Teffo said. Politicians must open up the space for ordinary people and civil society to lead the process. ALSO READ: 'No different to an EFF rally or Joy of Jazz' – iPhupho L'ka Biko leader after National Dialogue performance According to Teffo, the National Dialogue should be facilitated by external individuals with no vested interest in the issue. Also, there were many local experts who could play a role and do a better job, so the process is not mired in the political battles of the elite, as it was turning out to be at the moment. The Thabo Mbeki, FW de Klerk, Desmond and Leah Tutu, Steve Biko, Albert Luthuli, Oliver and Adelaide Tambo foundations have pulled out of the dialogue, citing rushed processes and exclusion of citizens. Foundations and parties pulled out Parties within the government of national unity have also boycotted the dialogue, leaving Ramaphosa to handle the issue with his backers and a few civil society organisations. It is not clear where the Nelson Mandela and the Ahmed Kathrada Foundations stand on the issue. Neither have publicly stated whether they will participate or not in the dialogue, despite fellow struggle stalwarts' foundations staying clear of the process. ALSO READ: National Dialogue has big gaps in it Ndou said the National Dialogue is supposed to be people-driven, not top town. 'The people who have pulled out are the people who have had an opportunity to lead and we have heard them. But now it is time to hear ordinary citizens. 'It could be a blessing in disguise. Maybe the voice that is unknown could have been suppressed,' Ndou said. Dialogue should be people-driven 'I don't think that we need to be led by people that we know or for the National Dialogue to be blessed by people that are known.' Ndou said that as it was the first such forum that involved ordinary people, it could not be expected to be the best executed. 'Therefore, we should take advantage of the fact that the government has given it the go-ahead and assisted in providing logistics, but their role is just to listen and not to lead,' Ndou said. NOW READ: Pull the plug and start dialogue over
IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
Malusi Gigaba finds little love in the wake of his criticism of the ANC
File picture: Themba Hadebe/Associated Press. Former Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba has set tongues wagging online Image: File picture: Themba Hadebe/Associated Press. Former finance minister and ANC NEC member receives backlash from his party after he publicly criticised the organisation for including DA in the Government of National Unity (GNU) @ZizinjaAbelungu Malusi Gigaba spoke about a number of issues that are affecting the ANC! Opulence within the party, embedded corruption as well as the wholesale of buying votes in the ANC Conference in Nasrec 2017. Cyril Ramaphosa being in the centre of buying that Conference. The ANC has issued a Letter of disapproval of these rhetoric and has labelled it as a 'flagrant violation of ANC communication protocols'. @AfricaisBlack The ANC has responded with 'serious concern and disapproval' to recent public statements by Malusi Gigaba and Senzo Mchunu. The party says their comments, which criticised the ANC's direction and its role in the Government of National Unity, violate internal discipline. The ANC statement warns that no one will be exempt from action for undermining unity. @XFactor079 Dr Malusi Gigaba is speaking the truth about ANC buying votes That's why some people in the ANC are rattled by his comments. @Judaeda3 Malusi Gigaba explaining how the ANC has been playing with people's emotions but has never delivered anything so far. @Mbalulafikile The ANC has noted with serious concern and disapproval the recent conduct and public statements made by Cde Malusi Gigaba and Cde Ssenzo Mchunu. @Ke_Moeletsi ANC is dead, nothing said by Gigaba and Mchunu is unknown. We will bring ANC to its knees, the arrogance will come to an end. You have been talking 'renewal since 2018, you gotten worse ever since, ANC ibolile and it must rejected by the masses. @Goolammv During the very dark days of state capture and corruption, Malusi Gigaba was one of the biggest enablers for the Gupta family from a Nadia to loot. He is corrupt, corrupt, corrupt. The Zondo commission report which is gathering dust, was damning against him. When he wanted to delete actual evidence from his ex wife Norma's phone, he got the Hawks to come from Mpumalanga to Pretoria to arrest her. Take all her devices and wipe out actual evidence. @Rasor896 Malusi Gigaba is the only sober person in the ANC. It a pity that he will be receiving his latter after this interview. In ANC they don't want someone who speaks the truth. He confirmed that ANC has a culture to steal votes. @Yanga_Co Mbalula is using the ANC to fight his battles, he is eliminating Gigaba because of potential ANC presidency candidate. @Markosonke1 ANC is not ready for self reflection people are busy in their little corners little groupings campaigning for 2026; 2029 – Malusi Gigaba. @Cinstitution_94 Malusi Gigaba showed a total disdain of Cyril Ramaphosa. He is launching his political campaign at the expense of the ANC & its current leaders. Senzo Mchunu must be thrown out for the nonsense he caused at SAPS. @KhanyaMsika So Mbalula is angry at Gigaba for saying we shouldn't have been in bed with the DA? A party that cant be criticised by its members is undemocratic. DAILY NEWS
IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
Marikana resembles ANC's shameful legacy
The National Prosecuting Authority is set to reinstate charges against the police officers who were acquitted for the Marikana Massacre. Image: Leon Sadiki / Independent Newspapers Archives SATURDAY marked the 13th anniversary of the Marikana massacre, a commemoration that carries no significance for the ANC and its current President Cyril Ramaphosa. It's no wonder that South Africans no longer trust the party with the responsibility of leading this country. It cannot own up to the tragedy that befell the miners at the time they were demanding fair pay and improved working conditions, issues upon which the ANC's foundation was built. This year's commemoration came a day after Ramaphosa addressed the opening of the so-called National Dialogue in Pretoria on Friday. Among the important questions he said need to be answered is why were the majority of the black population still trapped in abject poverty. One assumes the president knows the answer to this question, but was just playing to the gallery. Perhaps the families of the slain Marikana miners would have all the answers to that question. Only if he had visited them and apologised for the massacre, as any caring government should have long done. They would have told him that their fathers, brothers, sons and husbands embarked on strike precisely because of the poverty they were subjected to despite the long hours underground. They would have also informed him that their children were robbed of their breadwinners by the very state that was supposed to protect them. They would have painted a picture of struggles they are confronted with to make ends meet in an economy that is characterised by the alarming cost of living. But these are the answers that Ramaphosa and his current ANC are not prepared for. They are the enablers of these struggles, directly or indirectly. That is why the Marikana massacre has become a taboo topic in the former liberation movement. Ramaphosa confirmed what many have long believed; that the ANC he leads is so detached from the realities confronting poor South Africans. If it was not, it would not waste millions from the public purse debating issues that all of us are aware of. Instead, that money could have been spent towards the education of the children of the miners the government killed in Marikana.
