In a surprise political move, President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Gwede Mantashe, the current Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, as the Acting Minister of Police, effective immediately.
The interim appointment follows mounting public and political pressure on the police ministry, which is currently grappling with serious allegations implicating senior officials. With the ministry under intense scrutiny, the leadership shift is seen as a stabilising measure while government works toward a more permanent solution.
Mantashe will serve in this high-stakes role until Professor Firoz Cachalia officially takes over in early August. Cachalia’s appointment is expected to bring reform-minded leadership to the embattled ministry, but for now, Mantashe — a seasoned political heavyweight — will steer the ship during this turbulent transition.
The temporary shake-up raises pressing questions about the depth of the crisis within South Africa’s policing structures — and what Mantashe’s brief tenure might reveal about the road ahead.
