In a major shake-up of South Africa’s security apparatus, Acting Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia has formally moved to appoint KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi as the new national head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), commonly known as the Hawks.
Cachalia has submitted a formal Cabinet memorandum seeking the necessary concurrence for the appointment, acting in accordance with Section 17CA(1)–(3) of the South African Police Service Act 68 of 1995. According to a statement released by the police, the memorandum is set to be tabled at the “earliest opportunity” during a Cabinet sitting. Once approved, the appointment must also be reported to Parliament.
The push to install Mkhwanazi at the helm of the Hawks is being framed as a cornerstone of the government’s “Police Reset Agenda.” As the state intensifies its battle against entrenched organised crime and systemic corruption, officials believe Mkhwanazi’s track record makes him the ideal candidate to provide the strategic leadership and aggressive direction required by the elite unit.
Mkhwanazi, a battle-hardened former commander of the Special Task Force, is no stranger to high-stakes policing. He previously served as the acting National Police Commissioner between 2011 and 2013. Since 2018, he has served as the KZN provincial commissioner, earning a reputation for a no-nonsense approach to dismantling criminal syndicates. Earlier this year, he took on expanded national responsibilities, overseeing a centralised command designed to merge Crime Intelligence, detectives, and tactical units into a cohesive force.
The nomination comes on the heels of a tumultuous period in South African politics. Mkhwanazi rose to national prominence on July 6, 2025, when he publicly alleged that senior government officials, including then-Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, were colluding with criminal elements to obstruct investigations. The explosive press conference sent shockwaves through the Union Buildings, eventually forcing President Cyril Ramaphosa to suspend Mchunu and initiate the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry to probe the allegations of state-level complicity.
While the government seeks to bolster the Hawks with his appointment, the move leaves a significant void in KwaZulu-Natal. It remains unclear who will take over the provincial command from Mkhwanazi, a position he has held during some of the province’s most volatile years.
Political analysts suggest that placing Mkhwanazi in charge of the Hawks signals a shift toward a more militant, uncompromising stance against corruption. By positioning a figure known for challenging his own political superiors into the unit tasked with investigating “serious priority crimes,” the administration appears to be betting on Mkhwanazi’s independence to restore public confidence in the fight against crime. For now, the nation awaits the outcome of the upcoming Cabinet sitting to confirm if Mkhwanazi will indeed move to the national stage.
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