Justice & constitutional development minister Mmamoloko Kubayi is tipped to be appointed as acting police minister for the two weeks before Firoz Cachalia is sworn in to replace Senzo Mchunu.
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Sunday he would appoint an individual in the executive to act in the position until Cachalia takes up his post as police minister at the beginning of August.
Mchunu has been placed on special leave after explosive allegations against him.
Cachalia will be in the role while the commission of inquiry set up by Ramaphosa probes the allegations. Its tasks include investigating whether any members of the national executive responsible for the criminal justice system were complicit, aided and abetted or participated in the alleged criminal activities.
Cachalia would be appointed as minister in terms of section 91 of the constitution, after which he would be “designated as acting minister of police for the duration of the inquiry”, presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said.
Though Mchunu has denied allegations he has links to the criminal underworld, as alleged by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, Mchunu said he supported the president’s decision to place him on special leave.
“I personally subscribe to [the decision] which we all need to make efforts to uphold. I stand ready to respond to the accusations against me and account to the citizens of the Republic, fully and honestly so,” Mchunu said in a statement.
Business Day understands Mchunu is also facing pressure to step aside from his role as a member of the ANC’s national executive committee (NEC). This is ahead of the NEC’s meeting scheduled for July 18.
Mchunu was due to face the ANC top seven officials on Monday to present his version of events.
Opposition party the EFF has raised concerns regarding the legality of appointing Cachalia, considering he is not a cabinet member. The party cited section 91 of the constitution, which empowers the president to assign the functions of one cabinet minster only to another cabinet minister and not an “acting minister”.
The commission is expected to submit a final report to the president after completing its work. Interim reports are expected after three and six months, respectively.
DA leader John Steenhuisen said: “The country cannot afford another elaborate filing cabinet of findings that gather dust while the politically connected escape justice.”
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