Bheki Cele Linked To Suspicious Money Transfer Amid Police Corruption Probe

Former Police Minister Bheki Cele has been directly associated with a suspicious financial transaction involving alleged criminal figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, according to testimony before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee investigating police corruption.

During his sworn testimony on Wednesday, KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lt. Gen. Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi stated that Cele provided Matlala with a bank account not registered in Cele’s name.

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Matlala subsequently deposited money into the account and sent proof of payment, which Cele acknowledged. “This is not just about phone calls. It’s about money. It’s criminal,” Mkhwanazi told MPs.

He added that the communications in question date back to 2024 and that investigators are tracing the movement of the funds—whether they returned to Cele or were transferred elsewhere.

Alleged Network Links Bheki Cele And Other SAPS Officials to Organised Crime

The revelations indicate a potential laundering operation involving senior SAPS officials and organised crime syndicates.

Mkhwanazi highlighted that Cele is not the only official implicated. Suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and Deputy Commissioner General Shadrack Sibiya are also linked to a network of SAPS-affiliated cartels.

“There are runners and officers working as intermediaries between Sibiya and criminal elements,” Mkhwanazi explained. “We didn’t name all of them—there are too many.”

Investigations have traced communications and alleged links between these officials and SAPS personnel who may have facilitated illegal operations. Those implicated include members of Crime Intelligence, forensic units, detectives, and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI).

State Security Clearance and Ongoing Investigations

Mkhwanazi also revealed that the State Security Agency (SSA) may have played a role in improperly clearing Sibiya for appointment, despite objections from the City of Johannesburg and SAPS leadership.

“We need to confirm if the clearance was signed off by the Director-General of SSA, or if someone without authority pushed it through,” he said.

Some individuals mentioned in testimony remain under investigation. National Commissioner Fannie Masemola is expected to testify in upcoming proceedings, which continue Thursday morning.

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