Taxpayers have paid two Police Ministers over R6 million in the past year and a bit: one, an Acting Minister, Firoz Cachalia, and the other, on a special leave of absence, Senzo Mchunu.
This was revealed in a Parliamentary reply on Friday. The MK Party’s Emerald Madlala had asked Cachalia what the total cost has been of paying two Ministers, since Mchunu was placed on special leave on 13 July 2025.
Cachalia was appointed as Acting Minister of Police with effect from 1 August 2025. Cachalia’s total remuneration package cost over the period 1 August 2025 to 31 August 2026 comes to R3 024 834.58
Mchunu’s total remuneration package cost over the period 14 July 2025 to 31 August 2026 comes to R3 162 529.90
President Cyril Ramaphosa placed Mchunu on special leave following allegations by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi regarding political interference and alleged ties to organised crime. Earlier this year, the Presidency confirmed that Mchunu has not been implicated in the Madlanga Commission’s interim report.
The Chairperson of the Police Portfolio Committee, Ian Cameron, says the roughly R6.19 million for two people for one ministerial portfolio is roughly equivalent to the annual basic salaries of 26 Constable-ranked detectives, 20 Sergeant-ranked detectives, and 16 Warrant Officer-ranked detectives.
“Mchunu’s R3.16 million paid absence alone is equivalent to about 13 Constable-ranked detectives for a year. These are salary comparisons, not full employment-cost calculations.”
Cameron says when one considers the need at individual police stations, the cost comparisons are even more staggering.
He says at the Khayelitsha FCS Unit, which investigates sexual offences, crimes against children and domestic violence, there are only 21 officials against an identified ideal strength of 43.
“The unit was 22 people short. At the same station, 15 of 38 police vehicles were in garages. In other words, the combined ministerial remuneration is roughly equivalent to more Constable-ranked detective salaries than the entire identified personnel shortage at that FCS unit.”
Cameron says while South Africa fights a GBVF crisis, they are constantly told about constrained budgets, detective shortages, vehicle shortages and overstretched specialised units.
“Yet somehow we can afford an increasingly indefinite, multimillion-rand paid “holiday” for one Minister while paying another Minister to do the job.”
He has called on President Ramaphosa to end this arrangement.
“R6.19 million will not fix SAPS, but it certainly shows what government chooses to find money for.”
The matter of the reinstatement of National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola is also still outstanding. Calls have been made for his reinstatement after the court dismissed all charges against him. Ramaphosa confirmed that he is considering the matter.
