Suspended Police Minister paid R3.163 million to sit at home

Acting Minister of Police, Firoz Cachalia, revealed that suspended Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, received R3.163 million to sit at home for over a year.

Cachalia shared this information in response to a Parliamentary question from National Assembly member, Emerald Madlala.

President Cyril Ramaphosa placed Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu on a special leave of absence on Sunday, 13 July 2025.

The decision followed allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lt Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

Mchunu was accused of executive overreach and political interference within the South African Police Service operations.

Accusations included ordering the disbandment of the KZN Political Killings Task Team and allegations linking him to organised crime and drug syndicate investigations.

Mchunu accepted the special leave to allow investigations to unfold while maintaining his innocence regarding the collusion and corruption claims.

After Mchunu was placed on special leave, Professor Firoz Cachalia was appointed as the acting Minister of Police on 1 August 2025.

Since then, South African taxpayers have been supporting an acting minister and a suspended minister.

Madlala asked the acting Police Minister what the cost of paying two ministers has been since the start of Mchunu’s suspension.

Cachalia responded, saying the remuneration package of a Minister is determined by the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers Act.

He said that, in terms of the total remuneration package of a Minister, the following costs have been incurred since the suspension.

• Acting Minister Firoz Cachalia – Total remuneration package of R3,024,834.58 for 1 August 2025 to 31 August 2026.

• Suspended Minister Senzo Mchunu – Total remuneration package of R3,162,529.90 for 14 July 2025 to 31 August 2026.

That means that taxpayers paid R6.2 million over the last year to have two Police Ministers, one of whom has done nothing since 14 July 2025.