Professor Firoz Cachalia Sworn In as Acting Police Minister, Rejects “Shoot‑to‑Kill” Rhetoric
Viable News Team 
President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Professor Firoz Cachalia as Acting Minister of Police, effective 1 August 2025. The appointment follows the suspension of former Minister Senzo Mchunu amid allegations of criminal collusion and interference in sensitive investigations.
Cachalia, a respected legal scholar and former Gauteng MEC for Community Safety, was sworn in at the Union Buildings in Pretoria and pledged to restore integrity and accountability within the South African Police Service (SAPS).
A Clear Stance Against Unlawful Force
Immediately upon taking office, Cachalia addressed the controversial concept of a “shoot‑to‑kill” policy, making clear that unrestrained use of force is not the solution to crime.
“We are not a banana republic; South Africa has a history of abuse of policing power… the message from the minister cannot be that what is required is unbridled, unlawful violence,” Cachalia emphasized, referencing past tragedies such as the Andries Tatane killing and the Marikana Massacre.
He emphasized that officers should act decisively within the law, and that policymakers must ensure SAPS is properly equipped with trained detectives and strong institutional oversight.
While some commentators, including criminologist Prof. Kholofelo Rakubu, have expressed concern that Cachalia’s anti-violence stance may embolden criminals, Cachalia maintained that lawful enforcement and accountability offer the most sustainable path to public safety.
A Mandate Rooted in Integrity and Reform
Cachalia’s appointment comes after Mchunu was placed on leave amid charges of corrupt interference in high-level investigations, including alleged collaboration with criminal syndicates and disruption of the Political Killings Task Team in KwaZulu-Natal.
In his new role, Cachalia has pledged to work closely with the Anti‑Corruption Advisory Council, SAPS leadership, and other key justice sector entities, including the Department of Justice, to implement reforms aimed at restoring public confidence in policing.
Who Is Firoz Cachalia?
Born in Benoni in 1958, Cachalia rose through the ranks as an anti-apartheid activist, later serving as Speaker of the Gauteng Legislature and MEC for both Community Safety and Economic Development between 2004 and 2010. After leaving government, he held academic and advisory roles, including chairing the National Anti‑Corruption Advisory Council and teaching at Wits University. (Wikipedia)
His multi-sector experience positions him as a credible leader poised to navigate SAPS through a politically sensitive and reform-heavy period.
First Priorities & Public Expectations
- Reinforce lawful policing, no space for shoot‑to‑kill doctrines.
- Make good on cooperation pledges across government and oversight bodies.
- Rebuild public trust during the judicial inquiry into Mchunu’s alleged misconduct.
- Improve investigative and operational capacity within SAPS, particularly amid organized criminal syndicate threats.
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