Cachalia Moves to Appoint Mkhwanazi as National Head of the Hawks

Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has started the formal process to appoint KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi as the national head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, better known as the Hawks.

Cachalia has submitted a Cabinet memorandum asking for Cabinet’s concurrence on the appointment. The memorandum will be tabled at the earliest Cabinet sitting. Under the South African Police Service Act, the Minister of Police appoints the national head of the Hawks with Cabinet’s agreement. The appointment must also be reported to Parliament.

In a statement, the Police Ministry said the Hawks play a critical role in fighting organised crime, corruption and other serious priority offences. “This is a priority for the Police Reset Agenda. The appointment of a National Head is important in ensuring strong leadership, strategic direction and operational effectiveness in addressing these crimes,” the statement read.

The Hawks have been without a permanent national head since Lieutenant-General Godfrey Lebeya retired at the end of May 2025. The deputy head has been acting in the position for more than a year.

Mkhwanazi is a long-serving member of the South African Police Service. He joined in 1993 and rose through the ranks. He previously commanded the elite Special Task Force, the police’s top tactical unit. He also served as acting National Police Commissioner between 2011 and 2013. He has been the KwaZulu-Natal provincial commissioner since 2018 and was recently reappointed for another term because of his strong operational leadership and open approach with the public.

Earlier this year, Mkhwanazi took on additional national responsibilities while still holding the KZN post. He oversaw a coordinated command structure that brought together crime intelligence, detectives and tactical units across provinces to target sophisticated criminal syndicates.

His name became widely known in July 2025 after a press briefing in which he alleged that criminal networks had infiltrated parts of the justice system and that political interference had affected investigations. Those claims led to the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, where he appeared as the first witness.

The proposed move forms part of Cachalia’s broader Police Reset Agenda. The agenda aims to strengthen the fight against organised crime and corruption, improve leadership in key units, and restore public trust in the police. If Cabinet agrees, Mkhwanazi will provide strategic direction to the Hawks as they focus on priority crimes that affect communities across the country.

It is not yet clear who would take over as KwaZulu-Natal provincial commissioner if the appointment goes ahead. The process is still at the proposal stage and requires Cabinet’s formal concurrence before it can proceed.

Source: https://x.com/eNCA/status/2115758156160647192