Bheki Cele Praised By MP For Straightforwardness During Ad Hoc Committee Testimony

Former Police Minister Bheki Cele was commended by Members of Parliament (MPs) for his openness and straightforwardness during the Ad Hoc Committee hearing on Thursday. The committee is probing allegations made by SAPS KwaZulu-Natal provincial head, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

Cele, who served as Police Minister from February 2018 until 17 June 2024, testified before the committee to share details of his tenure, his involvement with the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), and his connection to Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.

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Addressing speculation about his relationship with Matlala, Cele made it clear that they were merely acquaintances.

“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,” Cele said. “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.”

MPs Commend Cele’s Candour During Testimony

Democratic Alliance MP Ian Cameron applauded Cele’s willingness to share information, describing his approach as open and forthright.

“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 said.

He added that Cele was transparent about his relationships, even with individuals considered suspicious. “There was also very little doubt, if any, regarding relationships with people, whether people that are considered suspicious or not; he was very open about the relationships that he has,” Cameron noted.

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Cameron did, however, express concern over the unusually brief handover period between Cele and suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu. “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,” he said.

He stressed that the Police Ministry covers a wide range of portfolios, including SAPS, IPID, the Hawks, PSIRA, and the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service, calling it “a major stakeholder in terms of safety and security in the country”.

Cele Questions Disbandment of Political Killings Task Team

During his testimony, Cele raised concerns about the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team, saying, “Why do you then stop when the mission has not been accomplished?”

Cameron suggested Cele might hold a bias due to his role in establishing the task team. “I think he’s likely more positive about it because he was part of the establishment of the PKTT. That could be the reason, but again, we’ll see what happens in the cross-examination process,” he said.

Cele also questioned Mkhwanazi’s stance on devolving policing powers, arguing that enforcing the law should remain a national police responsibility. Cameron countered that decentralisation could help improve policing capacity.

“Even if SAPS had all the political will in the world at the moment to do their job, they literally don’t have the capacity, so we have to think of alternatives,” Cameron stated.

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