Ramaphosa Has Breaks Silence About Mkhwanazi’s Proposed Appointment As Hawks Head

A national head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), also known as the Hawks, will be appointed after consideration by Cabinet, according to President Cyril Ramaphosa. Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who is currently the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner, is being considered for the position.

The matter will be considered by the Cabinet, according to Ramaphosa, who promised to make an announcement once a decision was reached.

The planned appointment has sparked a lot of interest among South African political and law-enforcement circles because of Mkhwanazi’s high profile within the SAPS and the weighty duties that come with heading the country’s specialized crime-fighting unit.

Priority crimes, including major organised crime, corruption, and major commercial crime, are investigated by the Hawks. Cases involving criminal networks operating across the nation and public-sector corruption also play a major role in the unit’s investigations.

Assuming he is appointed, Mkhwanazi will be making a huge career change in policing, going from provincial leadership in KwaZulu-Natal to the national leadership of a pivotal law-enforcement institution in South Africa.

Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia started the process by submitting a Cabinet memorandum asking approval for Mkhwanazi to take over the position. He then submitted the recommendation for his appointment.

The proposed appointment is being reviewed in compliance with Section 17CA(1)-(3) of the South African Police Service Act 68 of 1995, according to the Police Ministry. The Minister of Police, with the approval of Cabinet, is authorised by law to appoint the national head of the DPCI. It is also necessary to inform Parliament of the appointment.

The long leadership vacuum within the Hawks at the national level prompted Cachalia to make his suggestion. Vacancy occurred when Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya retired in May 2025.

Since then, the unit’s acting national head, Lieutenant General Siphesihle Nkosi, has been in charge.

In order to bolster the leadership of the Hawks, provide strategic direction, and improve operational effectiveness in the fight against organized crime and corruption, the Police Ministry has insisted that appointing a permanent national head is crucial.

This appointment is in line with the government’s larger Police Reset Agenda, which aims to fortify police forces and enhance their capacity to deal with high-profile crimes.

Since 2018, Mkhwanazi has been the provincial police commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal. His extensive career in the country’s police force includes a stint as acting commissioner from 2011 to 2013.

In July 2025, he gained national attention after making serious accusations during a public briefing regarding criminal infiltration and political interference within South Africa’s criminal justice system.

His accusations cast doubt on numerous public officials and law enforcement officials, leading President Ramaphosa to form the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry to probe allegations of wrongdoing, corruption, and political meddling in the criminal justice system.

Adding to the spotlight on the problems confronting South Africa’s criminal justice and police systems, parliament formed an investigative ad hoc committee to look into the claims.

If Mkhwanazi were to join the Hawks, he would be in the thick of things when it came to investigating national priority offences like organised crime networks and major corruption.

The appointment is not finalised yet, though, because the Cabinet’s approval is still required by law. In the event that the plan is approved, the question of who would replace him as police commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal has also arisen.

The decision is currently with Cabinet, but the acting national head of the Hawks, Lieutenant General Siphesihle Nkosi, will continue in his role.

The appointment process is still subject to the necessary government procedures, as Ramaphosa has confirmed. There will be an official announcement once Cabinet has deliberated and decided, according to the president.

Based on the results, we will know whether Mkhwanazi will step down as provincial chair and take charge of the Hawks, which are tasked with investigating some of the most serious crimes in South Africa.

Source: https://x.com/Newzroom405/status/2117207939304034474

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