Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Gwede Mantashe, Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, as acting Minister of Police, effective immediately.
Mantashe will hold the position until Professor Firoz Cachalia takes over in August after retiring from Wits University.
“Minister Mantashe will serve in this capacity until Professor Firoz Cachalia, who will retire from his position at the University of the Witwatersrand at the end of this month, assumes his position at the start of August,” said Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya said in a statement.
PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA APPOINTS ACTING MINISTER OF POLICE
President @CyrilRamaphosa has appointed Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Gwede Mantashe as Acting Minister of Police with immediate effect.
Minister Mantashe will serve in this capacity until Prof Firoz Cachalia,…
— The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) July 15, 2025
“Minister Mantashe will retain his responsibilities as Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources.”
Cachalia’s appointment follows the suspension of Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who, along with Deputy Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya, faces explosive allegations of political interference in police operations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
The allegations include disbanding task teams and manipulating case dockets.
In response, Ramaphosa has launched a commission of inquiry, led by acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, to investigate the claims.
Sibiya has also been placed on leave, while both he and Mchunu deny wrongdoing.
Picture: X/@GwedeMantashe1
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
