Minister Cachalia’s swearing-in highlights Constitutional missteps

ON 1 August, Mr Firoz Cachalia was officially sworn in as the Minister of Police, following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement days earlier that Cachalia would serve as Acting Minister while Minister Senzo Mchunu was placed on special leave.

- SABELO MFAYELA | Ndwedwe councillor

However, this sequence of events raises serious constitutional, ethical, and governance questions, not only in terms of how it was communicated to the nation but also in regard to the potential misuse of public resources.

Initially, the president informed the public that Mchunu would be placed on special leave and that Cachalia would step in as acting minister of police. This arrangement raises constitutional questions.