Who is Firoz Cachalia? All Details about South Africa’s New Acting Police Minister

Firoz Cachalia has been appointed as South Africa’s Acting Minister of Police by President Cyril Ramaphosa, following the decision to place Senzo Mchunu on leave. The announcement came amid public debate and political pressure over allegations of interference in criminal investigations against Mchunu.

The move surprised many in the country, sparking interest in Cachalia’s background and experience. So, who is Firoz Cachalia?

Who is Firoz Cachalia? A Life Dedicated to Justice and Democracy

Firoz Cachalia was born in 1958 in Benoni, a town east of Johannesburg. From a young age, he was deeply involved in South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, he was detained and banned multiple times for his activism.

He was a key member of the United Democratic Front (UDF) and also represented the Transvaal Indian Congress during the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA). At CODESA, he helped shape the constitutional principles that later formed the foundation of the democratic South African state.

Academic and Legal Background

Cachalia holds several degrees from Wits University, including:

• BA

• LLB

• Higher Diploma in Company Law

He later earned a Master of Laws (LLM) with distinction from the University of Michigan.

Currently, he is a law professor at the University of the Witwatersrand, where he is respected for his work in public law and constitutional development.

Experience in Public Service

After South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994, Cachalia entered the Gauteng Provincial Legislature as a member of the African National Congress (ANC).

He held several leadership roles:

• Speaker of the Legislature (1999–2004)

• MEC for Community Safety (2004–2009)

These roles gave him critical experience in governance, policing, and community safety—making him a strong candidate to serve in the current police leadership crisis.

Anti-Corruption Leadership

In 2022, President Ramaphosa appointed Cachalia as the chair of the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council, a body created to tackle corruption and investigate issues linked to state capture.

His appointment as acting Police Minister during a time of controversy suggests that Ramaphosa is turning to trusted, ethical leadership to restore public confidence in law enforcement.