Ramaphosa: Cabinet to decide whether Mkhwanazi gets top Hawks job - IOL
KwaZulu Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s name has been submitted to cabinet, nominating him as the next Hawks head.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed that KZN police commissioner lieutenant-general Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s proposed appointment as national head of the Hawks will be considered by Cabinet before a final decision is announced.
Ramaphosa said Mkhwanazi’s name had been put forward and that Cabinet would decide whether to approve the appointment.
“The name of General Mkhwanazi has been put forward, it will go to Cabinet, Cabinet will be meeting and when Cabinet has decided, the announcement will be made and that is a Cabinet process,” Ramaphosa said.
He added that Cabinet’s decision would only be made public once the process had been completed.
“I am sure you want to know what Cabinet is going to decide, but we do not disclose what Cabinet is going to decide, we only disclose afterwards,” he said.
Ramaphosa was speaking on Monday during a visit to the Premier Soccer League offices in Parktown, Johannesburg, where he met PSL chairperson Dr Irvin Khoza and chief executive Mato Madlala.
The proposed appointment follows Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia’s submission of a formal Cabinet memorandum seeking approval for Mkhwanazi to lead the Hawks.
The proposed comes after Mkhwanazi’s public allegations in July 6 2025, when he accused senior police figures and then Police Minister Senzo Mchunu of interfering in sensitive investigations and attempting to disband the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT).
He also alleged that criminal networks had infiltrated key institutions, implicating politicians and officials across the criminal justice system.
These claims remain subject to investigation and must not be treated as established findings.
Ramaphosa subsequently placed Mchunu on special leave and established the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
Parliament also established an ad hoc committee to examine the allegations.
