Firoz Cachalia Has Initiates Process To Appoint Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi As National Hawks Head

South Africa’s efforts to strengthen the investigation of serious crime have moved into a new phase, with Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia initiating the process to appoint KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi as the national head of the Hawks.

The proposed appointment concerns one of the country’s key investigative institutions, which handles serious offences such as organised crime, corruption and complex criminal cases. Whoever leads the directorate will be responsible for providing strategic direction and overseeing investigations that can involve powerful individuals and criminal networks.

Mkhwanazi has spent decades in the South African Police Service (SAPS), progressing through several senior positions. He joined the service in 1993 and previously commanded the elite Special Task Force, a specialised unit responsible for high-risk police operations.

He also served as acting national police commissioner between 2011 and 2013 before becoming KwaZulu-Natal’s provincial commissioner in 2018.

His profile increased further in July 2025, when he publicly raised allegations about criminal networks and possible interference within parts of the criminal justice system. His claims prompted wider scrutiny and contributed to the establishment of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.

Those allegations have made accountability and the independence of law enforcement central issues in the public discussion surrounding his role. They should nevertheless be assessed through evidence and the appropriate investigative processes rather than treated as established findings.

The proposed move to the Hawks would place Mkhwanazi in charge of a national investigative directorate rather than a single province. The position requires coordination across jurisdictions and oversight of investigations involving a broad range of serious offences.

The process also comes after an extended vacancy at the top of the Hawks. Former national head Lieutenant-General Godfrey Lebeya retired at the end of May 2025, leaving the organisation without a permanent head, according to the supplied report.

Cachalia’s initiative is part of the government’s stated effort to strengthen policing leadership and improve the response to organised crime and corruption. However, a proposed appointment is not the same as a completed one.

The appointment requires Cabinet’s concurrence under the applicable legal framework, and the decision must be reported to Parliament. Until the necessary steps are completed, Mkhwanazi’s move to the national position remains conditional.

Another question concerns KwaZulu-Natal itself. If Mkhwanazi takes up the national role, a decision will be needed about who succeeds him as provincial commissioner.

The outcome will therefore matter both for the Hawks’ national leadership and for the future management of policing in KwaZulu-Natal. Public attention is likely to focus not only on whether the appointment proceeds, but also on how the institution performs its duties and maintains public confidence.

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

SupreemTekWorldwide feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com