South Africa’s two police ministers, one of whom has been on special leave since July last year, cost taxpayers roughly R4.5 million during the 2025/26 financial year.

However, the true cost could be significantly higher, as this figure is based solely on their salaries over the period.

South Africa has effectively been paying the salaries of two police ministers since President Cyril Ramaphosa placed Senzo Mchunu on special leave in July last year and swore in Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia two weeks later.

This came after KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi made explosive allegations that organised crime groups had captured parts of the country’s criminal justice system, implicating Mchunu in the process.

The allegations against Mchunu, who was sworn in as Minister of Police in June 2024, included interfering in police investigations and colluding with businesspeople to disband the Political Killings Task Team, claims he has denied.

Ramaphosa said Mchunu would remain on special leave until the conclusion of an investigation into Mkhwanazi’s allegations, chaired by former Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga.

While Ramaphosa initially said the investigation, known as the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, had six months to submit its final report, setting a deadline of 31 March 2026, it has since been granted an extension until 31 August.

Considering that Cachalia, formerly a professor of law at Wits University, was appointed at the beginning of August 2025, this means South Africa has had two police ministers for roughly nine and a half months.

Ramaphosa said that he was aware taxpayers were paying for two police ministers and that he would “sort it out”. However, nothing has been done.

According to the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers Act, Cabinet ministers earned roughly R2.7 million in annual compensation during the 2025/26 financial year.

Despite his suspension, Mchunu has continued receiving his monthly salary, meaning he would have received the full R2.7 million.

In addition, taxpayers have had to foot the bill for Cachalia’s time in office from August onwards. At roughly R224 161 per month, this means he would have earned around R1.8 million during the remainder of the financial year.

This brings the total salary bill for South Africa’s police ministers to roughly R4.5 million over the period.