Mkhwanazi Retracts Claim Bheki Cele Received Money From Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala

Evidence leader Advocate Norman Arendse has informed Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee that KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has formally withdrawn his allegation that former Police Minister Bheki Cele received money from businessman Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala.

Arendse told the committee that he received a notification indicating that the allegation had been retracted. The Ad Hoc Committee is currently probing claims of corruption and political interference in South Africa’s criminal justice system, initially brought forward by Mkhwanazi.

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According to Arendse, Mkhwanazi’s withdrawal stemmed from an error discovered during data analysis. The team working on the matter reportedly linked incorrect bank account details to Cele.

“Just before we adjourn, we received a text message. Subsequently, we had a short conversation with the Lieutenant-General Mkhwanazi in which he says that this allegation is withdrawn — that the team that was working on the analysis got the bank account number wrong and that it’s not a reference to you (Cele),” Arendse told the committee.

Cele Raises Concerns Over Loss of Elite Police Officers

Meanwhile, Bheki Cele, appearing before the same committee, revealed that the state has lost several highly trained Special Task Force officers to the private sector, including the security industry.

Cele disclosed that 56 members had left the Special Task Force for private employment, though he did not specify the timeframe. He highlighted this as a concerning trend he had attempted to curb during his time as Police Minister.

“Why I am scared of the story is because I have spoken to Nhlanhla earlier on to give me the information that we have lost 56 members of the Special Task Force of police to the taxi industry.

“Fifty-six. Now, I am told that to train one member of a Special Force Task Team is R1.1 million to be all-rounder. We have lost 56 to the taxi industry,” Cele said.

The allegations that sparked the parliamentary probe were first made public by Mkhwanazi during a media briefing in July, drawing widespread attention to claims of corruption and political interference within the justice system.

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