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Police Committee chair asks Ramaphosa to fire Mchunu over costs

Published

Ongoing: Mchunu case Ended

Ian Cameron, chairperson of the Police Committee, says Senzo Mchunu's legal costs and pay have cost the State almost R6 million since July 2025. He says keeping Mchunu while an acting minister does the job is costly.

Cameron said Ramaphosa has the constitutional power to remove a minister. He said Mchunu could have been relieved of his executive duties while he kept his seat in Parliament. Mchunu went on special leave in July 2025, and Firoz Cachalia now acts as Police Minister.

Cachalia told Parliament that the Justice Department has paid R2.7 million for Mchunu's legal costs. Cameron put Mchunu's pay and legal representation to date at approximately R5.86 million.

Cameron also said removing Mchunu from Cabinet would not amount to a criminal conviction. He said Mchunu's pay as a member of Parliament would continue. He said: "This is absolutely reckless and negligent taxpayer spending."

Key facts

Who
Ian Cameron (Police Committee chairperson); Cyril Ramaphosa (President); Senzo Mchunu (Minister (placed on special leave in July 2025)); Firoz Cachalia (acting Police Minister)
What
Cameron said Mchunu's legal costs and remuneration have cost the State almost R6 million since he was placed on special leave in July 2025, and that retaining him while acting minister Firoz Cachalia performs the role is costly. The article reports Cachalia told Parliament the Justice Department has paid R2.7 million for Mchunu's legal costs.
When
28 October 2026
Status
Reported

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