Acting Police Minister Cachalia Seeks Cabinet Approval to Appoint General Mkhwanazi as Hawks Head

• Acting Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia initiated the formal process to appoint a new National Head of the Hawks on 29 October 2026
• Lt General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi was named in the Cabinet Memorandum submitted by Cachalia for concurrence before Parliament is notified
• The appointment forms part of the Police Reset Agenda, with the DPCI role seen as critical to tackling organised crime and corruption

SOUTH AFRICA — Acting Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia has set in motion the formal procedure to appoint a permanent National Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), the unit widely known as the Hawks.

Cachalia submitted a Cabinet Memorandum on 29 October 2026 proposing Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi for the position. The memorandum is set to be tabled at the earliest available Cabinet sitting, after which Parliament must be informed of the appointment.

Mkhwanazi nominated under SAPS act

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The process is governed by Section 17CA(1) to (3) of the South African Police Service Act 68 of 1995, which requires the Minister of Police to secure Cabinet's concurrence before confirming the appointment of the DPCI's National Head.

Cachalia is exercising powers vested in him under the same legislation while serving in an acting capacity.

See X post from SAPS here:

Hawks role central to police reset agenda

The DPCI (Hawks) is mandated to investigate organised crime, corruption, and other serious priority offences. The Acting Minister described filling the National Head position as a key component of the broader Police Reset Agenda, emphasising that strong leadership at the helm of the unit is essential for strategic direction and operational effectiveness.

No date was confirmed for when the Cabinet sitting would take place or when a final announcement on the appointment could be expected.

Mkhwanazi to lauch new crime fighting project

Briefly News also reported that KwaZulu-Natal's top cop, General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi announced that he was preparing to share his crime-fighting passion with the rest of the country as he launched nationwide project. Mkhwanazi's crime-fighting project will focus on organised crime in all forms nationwide. Mkhwanazi assured the province that the new task will not remove him from his role as KZN's Police Commissioner.

Source: Briefly News