Man in the middle unmoved, shrugs off Cele suspension

Property tycoon Roux Shabangu is unmoved by the suspension of national police commissioner General Bheki Cele, according to reports on Wednesday.

Shabangu told The New Age newspaper that he believed President Jacob Zuma had done what he saw fit when he suspended Cele and fired Public Works Minister Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde.

“The president runs his Cabinet as he sees fit, like I run my business as I see fit,” he was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

Shabangu maintained that his deals with the public works and police departments were above board.

Zuma suspended Cele on Monday.

Public Protector Thuli Madonsela had found his involvement in the procurement of two leases for new police headquarters in Pretoria and Durban, involving Shabangu, unlawful and that they amounted to maladministration. The leases were worth R1.6-billion.

Zuma appointed a board of inquiry into the allegations of misconduct in relation to the contracts.

Shabangu welcomed the inquiry into the contracts signed with his company for the buildings, the New Age reported.

He hoped it would “shed some light” on allegations of impropriety levelled against him and Cele.

Shabangu vowed to clear his name in court as he was contesting the public works department’s effort to have the lease contract with his company cancelled.—Sapa