MK Party sends legal letter to Ramaphosa demanding details regarding his decisions on Mchunu, Cachalia
It comes after the Zuma and his party lost a bid for direct access to the Constitutional Court last week to challenge the constitutionality of executive decisions taken by Ramaphosa following the allegations of police corruption made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
President Cyril Ramaphosa during an engagement with the Northern Cape leadership at the Sol Plaatjie University in the Northern Cape on 25 July 2025. Picture: @PresidencyZA/X
CAPE TOWN - The MK Party is persisting in challenging the special leave of Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and his temporary replacement, Firoz Cachalia.
Lawyers for former President Jacob Zuma have once again written to his successor, President Cyril Ramaphosa, demanding more details regarding his decisions, saying these will better inform a case it intends to launch in the high court.
It comes after Zuma and his party lost a bid for direct access to the Constitutional Court last week to challenge the constitutionality of executive decisions taken by Ramaphosa following the allegations of police corruption made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
In a legal letter fired off to President Ramaphosa on Monday morning, MK Party leader, Jacob Zuma, said that he was acting in various capacities, including concerned citizen, voter, taxpayer, and former president.
Among the extensive list of questions Zuma’s lawyers want answered include the exact date and time he took the decision to place Minister Mchunu on leave and when he decided to appoint Cachalia in his place.
Cachalia was sworn in at the Union Buildings on Friday as one of two outside appointments the president is permitted to make to his Cabinet.
Zuma’s lawyers are questioning Cachalia’s exact title, whether minister, acting minister or minister designate.
His lawyers want to know for how long the taxpayers will have to pay for two police ministers, and whether Ramaphosa still believes a commission of inquiry is necessary before he can decide whether to dismiss Mchunu from Cabinet.
The party also wants Ramaphosa to provide reasons for not promoting one of the two deputy police ministers instead, as he did after firing the former higher education minister, Nobuhule Nkabane, and appointed her deputy, Buti Manamela.
Ramaphosa has been set a Friday deadline to respond to Zuma's questions, else face an urgent application to be launched in the high court.