/ 12 June 2012

Zuma announcement expected on Cele’s future

Suspended national police commissioner Bheki Cele.
Suspended national police commissioner Bheki Cele.

“I don’t know what time it will be but it will be today [Tuesday],” Cele’s spokesperson Vuyo Mkhize said.

On Monday, Mkhize said Cele would leave his position if Zuma asked him to.

If Zuma used the findings of a report by a board of inquiry chaired by Justice Jake Moloi, then Cele would challenge these in court.

Zuma was to address a special news briefing at the Union Buildings in Pretoria at 4pm on Tuesday, the presidency said.

It did not elaborate, but the expectation was that Zuma would make an announcement on Cele.

The board of inquiry was mandated to establish whether Cele acted corruptly, dishonestly, or with an undeclared conflict of interest in relation to two police lease deals signed with business tycoon Roux Shabangu – one for a building in Pretoria, another for a building in Durban.

‘Fed up’
Mkhize said Cele was “fed up” because he felt Moloi’s findings were not legally valid.

The inquiry, which has submitted its report to Zuma, reportedly found that Cele lacked the capacity to execute his official duties efficiently and was not fit to hold office.

It also apparently found that his grave misconduct as national police commissioner and his apparent unlawful conduct further proved that he was unable to hold office.

Evidence reportedly suggested there was a questionable relationship between Cele and Shabangu.

Last year, public protector Thuli Madonsela found Cele’s involvement in deals to acquire police office space was “improper, unlawful, and amounted to maladministration”.

She said while Cele had not signed the final lease, he had initiated negotiations with Shabangu, and had seemed determined to secure the leases despite warnings against them.

‘Absolute nonsense’
Mkhize said reports of Cele’s impending resignation were “absolute nonsense”.

On Tuesday, Durban’s afternoon newspaper, the Daily News, quoted unnamed sources as saying that Cele had already written his resignation letter.

Mkhize, speaking from Pretoria, said: “They are talking crap.”

He said Cele was waiting for Zuma’s announcement.

He said Cele was in Pretoria on personal business but that it was not connected to Zuma’s announcement. – Sapa

Follow @mg_reporter for updates from the Union Building.