Bheki Cele's candid testimony sheds light on police leadership
Former police minister Bheki Cele appears before the Ad Hoc Committee looking into police corruption.
Image: Armand Hough/Independent Newspapers
Former Police Minister Bheki Cele faced Members of Parliament (MPs) during the Ad Hoc Committee's investigation into allegations against SAPS KwaZulu-Natal provincial head, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
MPs commended Cele for his transparency and willingness to provide information throughout the inquiry.
Serving as Minister of Police from February 2018 until 17 June 2024, Cele discussed his tenure, the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), and his relationship with Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala during his testimony.
He described Matlala as an acquaintance and not a friend.
“I am not a friend to Matlala. I met Matlala in December. He is my acquaintance… We are not friends. I know him. I don’t know his house. He doesn’t know my house.
“Friends would know more than that, so I deny (that we are friends). I don’t agree that he is my friend. He’s my acquaintance,” Cele said.
The DA’s Ian Cameron said Cele had been very forthcoming with information.
“Obviously, we'll have to see where it leads when we go to cross-examination, but so far he's been very forthcoming. It didn't feel like he was dancing around answers. He was quite straightforward with many things.
Cameron described the less than two hour handover from Cele to Mchunu, as being strange.
“The handover thing of just two hours, I immediately sent a message to some of my colleagues saying I find it very, very strange. A handover like that shouldn't be shorter than two days, never mind two hours.
“It's a major, major stakeholder in terms of safety and security in the country.”
During yesterday's proceedings, Cele raised an issue with the immediate disbandment of the PKTT, saying, “Why do you then stop, when the mission has not been accomplished?”
Cameron added that he felt that there was a little bias from Cele regarding the matter.
Cele also said that he felt that Mkhwanazi was not in the right arena when he was being questioned about the devolution of policing powers.
Cele said he felt it is the police’s responsibility to enforce the law and that he is not in favour of the devolution of powers.
“II still think there's a misperception that it's just about political power, and I think politics has unfortunately taken centre stage when it comes to capacitating police, whether it's through a more decentralised model, like for example with devolution or something else, ” Cameron said.