Cachalia vows cops will deliver

New minister promises real accountability and better value for money

- TRACY-LYNN RUITERS

WITH all eyes on newly appointed Acting Minister of Police Professor Firoz Cachalia, crime experts and analysts are cautiously optimistic about what his appointment could mean for policing reform and national security in South Africa.

Cachalia was sworn into office yesterday following the bombshell allegations by KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi that a powerful criminal syndicate had infiltrated the country’s law enforcement, intelligence agencies, and even the judiciary.

Mkhwanazi accused police minister Senzo Mchunu of interfering in sensitive investigations and colluding with a murder-accused businessman to disband a task team probing political killings in KwaZulu-Natal.

In a televised address to the nation, President Cyril Ramaphosa placed Mchunu on a leave of absence, announced a commission of inquiry into the allegations, and appointed 66-year-old Cachalia as the acting minister.

In an exclusive interview, Cachalia spoke about the surprise appointment, his sense of responsibility, and how he plans to approach the portfolio in the coming weeks.

“When I saw the calls on my phone, I realised it was someone from the Presidency. I wondered why he’d be calling me, it’s not every day the president looks for you,” said Cachalia. “When I received a call from President Ramaphosa himself. I didn’t have much time to think about it, but I immediately said yes.”

Cachalia recalled exchanging a few brief words with his wife about how unexpected it was. “I was taken aback, it was completely out of the blue. There was no indication.”