President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday night addressed the nation, stating that a judicial commission of inquiry is set to investigate allegations about criminal syndicates capturing the South African Police Service (SAPS).
This sparked nationwide critique against Ramaphosa, from political parties to ordinary citizens.
“These allegations call for urgent and comprehensive investigations to address these allegations and the implications of these allegations. I’m establishing a judicial commission of inquiry that will be chaired by Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga,” Ramaphosa announced.
In order for the commission to execute its functions effectively, he added, the Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu was placed on a leave of absence with immediate effect. “The minister has undertaken to give his full cooperation to enable it to work properly.”
The fact that @CyrilRamaphosa hasn't suspended #SenzoMchunu yet is a serious concern to the safety of the people of #SouthAfrica !!!!!! @CyrilRamaphosa failed this country!!!!!!!!#CyrilMustGo #AncMustFall pic.twitter.com/lMuIgf0VFR
— #AncMustFall (@1976_12) July 12, 2025
Professor of law Firoz Cachalia has been appointed as acting Police Minister. Ramaphosa did so under Section 91(3)(c) of the South African Constitution, which empowers the President to select up to two ministers from outside the National Assembly. [thepresidency.gov.za]
The President’s missed opportunity
Ian Cameron, the National Assembly Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police, regards this as a missed opportunity by the President. “The President had a chance to draw the line in the sand and actually act, come out strongly, remove people and he could have even made certain recommendations.”
He said he could not believe Ramaphosa stated that the commission would determine which people in high-ranking positions are to be suspended.
“Where on earth, while we are the third highest ranking country for organised crime in Africa, the President says ‘we’re going to have a commission to determine when or who should possibly be suspended’? It is disgraceful,” Cameron said in reaction to the address.
Police Capture is real. Parliament and SAPS leadership cannot wait for yet another long, expensive process while trust in policing collapses further. A commission is only as good as the will to act on its findings, and so far that track record is poor, maybe this can somehow be…
— Ian Cameron (@IanCameron23) July 13, 2025
“I honestly think police capture is real, because the response tonight has no logic to me..,” he added.
Ramaphosa said the commission is expected to complete its work and submit a final report to the President, as well as interim reports, will be expected after three months and six months, respectively. The final report of the commission will be sent to the Speaker of the National Assembly and to the Chief Justice.
‘Outsourcing executive responsibility’
This unleashed a slew of critique against the president from across the board.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in a press release stated: “These allegations provided the President with an opportunity to show bold and firm leadership. Instead, he has once again outsourced executive responsibility to a commission, and South Africans have grown cynical of talk shops, task teams and commissions which they see as buying time and avoiding accountability.”
“The President has taken a step, but not the leap that this moment demands. If he truly wants to root out criminal syndicates from the state, he must start with his own Cabinet.”
‘Illegal & constitutionally baseless’
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is “appalled” by Ramaphosa’s decision to place Mchunu on “special leave” instead of removing him entirely from his position. “This ‘special leave’ is a cowardly deflection, designed to shield a corrupt Minister whose involvement in organised crime has been laid bare by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lt Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.”
The EFF also rejects the legally and “constitutionally baseless” decision to appoint an acting Minister of Polcie who is not a current member of Cabinet. “This is a direct violation of Section 98 of the Constitution, which states: ‘The President may assign to a Minister any power or function of another Minister who is absent or otherwise unable to fulfil the functions of office’.”
It said the President’s decision based on Section 91(3)(c) is not only illegal, “it is also a flagrant abuse of ministerial salary under the guise of ‘special leave’, while the President unlawfully bloats the Cabinet by appointing someone not lawfully entitled to serve in that role”.
The uMkhonto WeSizwe Party (MK) condemns and rejects Ramaphosa’s “grossly unconstitutional, politically dodgy, financially expensive and cowardly announcement” made on Sunday.
“The announcement by Cyril Ramaphosa is above all unconstitutional because he proposed appointment of a civilian professor who is neither a member of Cabinet, nor a member of the National Assembly…”
Skeptics point to past inquiries—like the Zondo Commission—as examples of lengthy processes that yielded zero consequences.
