Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has asked Cabinet to approve KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi as the next national head of the Hawks.
Cachalia has submitted a formal memorandum seeking Cabinet’s concurrence for the appointment, the police said. The proposal is not yet final: the memorandum is due to be presented at the earliest opportunity during a Cabinet sitting.
“The memorandum will be presented at the earliest opportunity during a Cabinet sitting,” the police said in a statement.
The appointment process is set out in section 17CA of the South African Police Service Act. The Minister of Police appoints the national head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, commonly known as the Hawks, with Cabinet’s concurrence. The appointment must also be reported to Parliament.
If appointed, Mkhwanazi would lead the unit responsible for investigating serious priority offences, including organised crime and corruption. The government said having a permanent national head was important to provide strategic leadership and direction.
“This is a priority for the Police Reset Agenda,” the police said.
Lieutenant-General Siphesihle Nkosi is currently serving as acting national head of the Hawks. It remains unclear who would replace Mkhwanazi as KwaZulu-Natal’s provincial commissioner if Cabinet approves the proposed move.
Mkhwanazi has held a national role alongside his provincial position this year. He began overseeing a co-ordinated central command intended to bring together Crime Intelligence, detectives and tactical units across provinces to target sophisticated criminal networks.
His possible move to the Hawks comes as the unit faces scrutiny over allegations of links between senior law-enforcement officials and organised crime. The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, established in 2025, is examining allegations of criminality, political interference and corruption in the criminal justice system.
The commission was formed after Mkhwanazi made serious allegations about a criminal syndicate that he said had infiltrated the justice system. In July 2025, he publicly accused senior government officials, including then-suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, of colluding with criminals and obstructing investigations.
Those claims triggered political and legal consequences, including Mchunu’s suspension and the establishment of the commission. The allegations remain subject to investigation and inquiry.
Mkhwanazi has also held several senior policing roles. A former Special Task Force commander, he served as acting national police commissioner between 2011 and 2013. He returned to KwaZulu-Natal as provincial commissioner in 2018.
The Hawks’ national head oversees the unit’s strategic direction and leadership across the country. The position is central to the government’s stated effort to strengthen the police response to organised crime, corruption and other serious offences.
Cachalia’s submission to Cabinet begins the formal appointment process, but does not mean Mkhwanazi has been appointed. Cabinet’s decision and the subsequent reporting to Parliament remain outstanding.