DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis has requested President Cyril Ramaphosa to urgently appoint a permanent Minister of Police, warning that the country cannot fight the perpetual crime crisis with temporary leadership.

In a formal letter addressed to the President on Friday, Hill-Lewis emphasised that South Africa cannot afford ongoing leadership uncertainty within the South African Police Service (SAPS).

The demand comes at a time when murder, extortion, gang violence, infrastructure sabotage, and organised crime continue to inflict deep harm on both local communities and the national economy.

In July last year, Ramaphosa appointed Firoz Cachalia to replace Senzo Mchunu, who was placed on an immediate leave of absence.

Mchunu’s suspension followed serious allegations of corruption, political interference, and malfeasance raised by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

Mkhwanazi specifically accused Mchunu of unilaterally disbanding the Political Killings Task Team and redirecting 121 active investigation dockets to the office of National Deputy Commissioner Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya, where they were allegedly neutralised.

Speaking during the DA’s march demanding urgent action against violent crime in Nelson Mandela Bay, Hill-Lewis pointed out that this weekend marks exactly one year since Cachalia’s temporary appointment.

"A whole year where two Ministers are being paid for the work of one," Hill-Lewis told the crowd. "The suspended Minister of Police [Mchunu] is still getting his salary of over R2.6-million while he sits at home. With that money, we could employ eight more detectives full-time.”

Hill-Lewis highlighted the severe operational consequences of this financial waste. In a country where thousands of criminals walk free due to poorly investigated cases, the DA leader stressed that every single resource matters.

"Eight new detectives mean more criminals behind bars and off our streets," Hill-Lewis argued. "South Africa needs leadership, authority, and accountability in the middle of a national crime crisis. You cannot fight permanent crime with temporary leadership."

The DA leader noted that systemic reforms within the police service are impossible without a stable, long-term political head.

"You cannot rebuild crime intelligence, fix broken police stations, support detectives, restore discipline in SAPS, and clean up corruption in law enforcement if the person responsible for doing it does not have a clear, permanent mandate," Hill-Lewis said.

Hill-Lewis said whoever serves in this position must have a clear and permanent mandate to rebuild crime intelligence, strengthen visible policing, support detectives, improve forensic capacity, restore discipline in SAPS, and clean up corruption within the criminal justice system.

He emphasised that a permanent Minister must also be given clear performance targets and be held publicly accountable for progress.

“South Africans deserve to know who is responsible, what is being done, and by when results will be delivered,” he said.