Hopes for acting police minister to tackle SA's crime scourge

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed veteran activist Professor Firoz Cachalia as the acting police minister after the current minister, Senzo Mchunu, was placed on a special leave.

- NADIA KHAN and FAKIR HASSEN

He made the announcement in the wake of serious allegations by KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, that Mchunu had colluded with criminal cartel leaders.

Last Sunday, Mkhwanazi shocked the country during a media briefing in which he made a wide range of allegations, including that Mchunu and other high-ranking police officers were involved in aiding and abetting criminals.

On Sunday, Ramaphosa announced a commission of inquiry would look into the allegations and provide an interim report within three months.

The inquiry would be headed by acting deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga.

Mkhwanazi alleged that Mchunu interfered with sensitive police investigations and colluded with business people, including a murder accused, to disband the Political Killings Task Team based in KZN.