LIVE | Former Police Minister Bheki Cele faces grilling from MP's after explosive testimony
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 takes his turn on the hot seat before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations of political interference in the operations of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
The committee, established by parliament amid alarming allegations of criminal infiltration and corruption within the criminal justice system, is focusing its inquiries on the claims made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
Mkhwanazi, on July 6, accused influential actors, including individuals allegedly linked to Cele, of compromising the integrity of the police.
Cele, who helmed the Police Ministry from February 2018 to June 2024, oversaw the operations of the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) during much of his tenure.
The PKTT was later disbanded on December 31, 2024, by the current Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu, who now faces suspension amid serious allegations of protecting criminal syndicates linked to Cele.
On Thursday, Cele revealed that he maintained close ties with murder suspect Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, whom Mkhwanazi implicated as a key figure in the criminal infiltration of the police.
Cele also revealed that Matlala told him that Minister Mchunu asked Matlala to fund his presidential campaign.
“Cat told me that the Minister [Mchunu] wanted to find funds for his project of becoming president, the future president. I didn’t get specific details about when or how this conversation between Mchunu and Matlala happened.”
Mchunu has denied links with Matlala and told the Ad Hoc Committee that he has never met him nor asked for presidential campaign funding.
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