Acting Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia has started the process to appoint Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi as the new national head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, commonly known as the Hawks.
The Police Ministry announced on Thursday that Cachalia seeks to appoint Mkhwanazi, who currently serves as the police commissioner in KwaZulu-Natal.
Cachalia submitted a cabinet memorandum seeking approval for Mkhwanazi’s appointment. The memorandum will be presented at the earliest opportunity during a cabinet sitting.
Critical role in fighting crime
“The DPCI plays a critical role in South Africa’s fight against organised crime, corruption, and other serious priority offences. This is a priority for the Police Reset Agenda,” the ministry said.
“The appointment of a national head is important in ensuring strong leadership, strategic direction and operational effectiveness in addressing these crimes.”
Lieutenant General Siphesihle Nkosi currently serves as the acting national head of the Hawks.
Explosive allegations in 2025
Mkhwanazi made headlines in 2025 when he held a media briefing exposing widespread alleged criminality and political interference in the South African Police Service.
During the 6 July press conference, he alleged that then-Police Minister Senzo Mchunu interfered with sensitive police investigations by colluding with business individuals to disband the Political Killings Task Team based in KwaZulu-Natal.
He claimed the disbanded task team had unmasked a sophisticated syndicate controlled by a drug cartel involving politicians, SAPS members, metro police, correctional services, prosecutors and the judiciary.
Mkhwanazi further alleged that 121 case dockets were removed from the task team and moved to SAPS headquarters on the minister’s instructions without proper authorisation, effectively stalling investigations.
The explosive allegations led President Cyril Ramaphosa to place Mchunu on a leave of absence. Ramaphosa then established the Madlanga Commission of inquiry to investigate the veracity and extent of criminal infiltration of law enforcement and intelligence structures.
Cachalia was appointed as acting police minister following Mchunu’s suspension.
Elite policing background
Mkhwanazi brings extensive operational experience to the potential role. He was born in Edendale, Pietermaritzburg, and joined the South African Police Service in 1993.
He holds a National Diploma and a B-Tech degree in Policing. His training includes specialised courses in public-order policing, Special Task Force operations, bomb disposal, crisis response, emergency diving, operational command, and counter-terrorism investigations with the United States Department of Justice, the FBI and Louisiana State University.
Mkhwanazi rose through the ranks, serving as head of the SAPS Special Task Force from 2005. This elite unit handles hostage rescue, high-risk operations, protection duties and specialised search-and-recovery work.
In May 2011, he became component head of Specialised Operations at the rank of major general. This portfolio covered the Air Wing, Special Task Force, Public Order Policing, Tactical Response Team, National Intervention Unit, Tracking Team, Mobile Operations, and cross-border operations.
Acting national commissioner stint
Later that year, in October 2011, authorities appointed him as acting national commissioner of SAPS after Bheki Cele’s suspension. During this period, he gained national prominence when he took action against Crime Intelligence head Richard Mdluli.
After his tenure as acting national commissioner, Mkhwanazi held several senior management posts including head of Facility Management, divisional commissioner for Human Resource Development, and divisional commissioner for Operational Response Services.
Return to KwaZulu-Natal
In May 2018, authorities appointed him as acting provincial commissioner of KwaZulu-Natal. Parliament described him as an experienced operational-policing manager, citing the province’s political murders, hostel violence and taxi-related crime as context for his deployment.
He became the permanent KwaZulu-Natal provincial commissioner in December 2018, appointed by then-Police Minister Bheki Cele.
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After a brief return to national headquarters in July 2019 as divisional commissioner for Operational Response Services, Mkhwanazi returned to lead policing in KwaZulu-Natal.
In March 2026, SAPS confirmed his reappointment as KZN provincial commissioner on a five-year fixed-term contract, following consultation with KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli.
His career combines elite tactical policing, national operational command, police administration and training, and provincial leadership. Parliament has characterised him as having “vast experience in operational policing.”
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