Firoz Cachalia Biography: Nationality, Children, Parents, Spouse, Politics, Net Worth, Age

Firoz Cachalia is a South African lawyer, academic and veteran public servant whose career spans anti-apartheid activism, provincial government, academia and national-level public appointments.

Born in Benoni in 1958, Cachalia has been a visible figure in Gauteng politics (as Speaker and as a Member of the Executive Council), later moving into academia at the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), and — more recently — being appointed to national roles including chairing the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council and serving as acting Minister of Police.

Profile

• Full Name: Firoz Cachalia
• Born: July 22, 1958
• Age: 67 years old (as of 2025)
• Birthplace: Benoni, Transvaal (now Gauteng), South Africa
• Nationality: South African
• Occupation: Lawyer, Academic, Politician, Public Servant
• Religion: Islam
• Spouse: Not publicly disclosed
• Children: Not publicly disclosed
• Net Worth: Estimated around $1 million – $3 million (as of 2025)

Early life and education

Firoz Cachalia was born on 22 July 1958 in Benoni (then Transvaal), east of Johannesburg. He became politically active while a student at Wits University, where he joined the anti-apartheid student movement and the United Democratic Front during the highly charged years of the 1970s and 1980s. His activism led to multiple detentions and banning orders under the apartheid state’s security legislation.

Cachalia’s formal legal education is extensive. He earned a BA, a BA (Hons), an LLB and a Higher Diploma in Company Law from the University of the Witwatersrand. He later completed an LLM at the University of Michigan (first class) in 1996 — credentials that paved the way for his dual career in law and public service.

Early legal career and transition into public life

After his student activism period, Cachalia worked as a lawyer and legal researcher in South Africa. In the early 1990s he worked at law firm Bell Dewar and Hall and as a researcher at the Centre for Applied Legal Studies. He also represented the Transvaal Indian Congress during the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA) negotiations — playing a legal and representational role during South Africa’s democratic transition.

Political career: Gauteng legislature and executive

Cachalia joined the Gauteng Provincial Legislature in 1994 following South Africa’s first democratic elections. He rose to become Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature from 1999 until 2004, a role that positioned him centrally in provincial governance during an important consolidation phase for democratic institutions.

In April 2004 he was appointed to the Gauteng Executive Council (the provincial cabinet) where he served as Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Community Safety until 2009. His time as MEC for Community Safety coincided with a period of critical programming and policy work aimed at improving policing and community security in South Africa’s most populous province. From May 2009 to November 2010 he briefly held the Economic Development portfolio in Gauteng before leaving provincial government.

Academic and civil society work

After exiting the provincial executive, Cachalia transitioned into academia — joining the Wits School of Law as a professor. At Wits he taught and published on constitutional law, governance and anti-corruption topics, and became a respected voice in law and policy circles. His academic work, combined with his public service background, positioned him as an expert in governance and legal reform.

Cachalia has also been active in civil society and non-executive roles. Notably, in July 2012 he was appointed a non-executive director of the South African Reserve Bank. In 2022 he was tapped by President Cyril Ramaphosa to chair the newly created National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council — a high-profile role aimed at advising and guiding government response to corruption and state capture issues.

National appointment: Acting Minister of Police (2025)

In 2025 Firoz Cachalia was appointed acting Minister of Police — a national cabinet role that placed him at the centre of South Africa’s law-enforcement policy and reform debates. His appointment drew attention because of his prior experience in provincial safety structures and his reputation in legal and anti-corruption circles. The role requires balancing political, operational and oversight responsibilities across the South African Police Service and other policing institutions.

Reputation, strengths and public perception

Cachalia is widely regarded as a thoughtful legal scholar with deep institutional knowledge of both governance and law enforcement issues. His background as an anti-apartheid activist gives him moral credibility among many constituencies, while his academic credentials bolster his reputation as an evidence-based thinker. That said, appointments at the national level bring intense scrutiny; media and public commentary around any senior appointment often examine past associations and governance decisions — a normal feature of public life for senior officials.

Timeline — Key milestones

• 1958 — Born 22 July in Benoni, Transvaal.
• Late 1970s–1980s — Active in student and anti-apartheid movements at Wits.
• 1994 — Elected to Gauteng Provincial Legislature after South Africa’s first democratic elections.
• 1999–2004 — Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature
• 2004–2009 — MEC for Community Safety, Gauteng.
• 2009–2010 — MEC for Economic Development, Gauteng (briefly).
• Post-2010 — Professor of Law, University of the Witwatersrand
• 2012 — Appointed non-executive director to the South African Reserve Bank.
• 2022 — Appointed Chairperson, National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council.
• 2025 — Appointed acting Minister of Police.

FAQs

When was Firoz Cachalia born?

He was born on 22 July 1958 in Benoni, Transvaal.

What is Firoz Cachalia’s educational background?

Cachalia holds a BA, BA (Hons), LLB and a Higher Diploma in Company Law from Wits, and an LLM from the University of Michigan.

What political offices has he held?

He has been Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature (1999–2004) and an MEC in Gauteng (Community Safety and Economic Development). In 2025 he became acting Minister of Police.

Has Cachalia worked in academia?

Yes — he has served as a professor at the University of the Witwatersrand School of Law.

What anti-corruption roles has he held?

In 2022 he was appointed chair of the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council.

Is Firoz Cachalia affiliated with any political party?

He has been associated with the African National Congress (ANC) and historically with the South African Communist Party.

Conclusion

Firoz Cachalia’s career is a blend of activism, legal scholarship and public administration. From student activism at Wits through decades of public service in Gauteng and later as an academic and national adviser on corruption and governance, his biography reflects the path of a legal intellect shaped by South Africa’s turbulent transition and ongoing efforts to strengthen institutions. Whether in the classroom, on advisory bodies or at the helm of national policing policy, Cachalia brings legal expertise and a long institutional memory to the challenges of governance and reform.