Cele longs to get back on the beat
20/05/2011 Durban General Commissioner Bheki Cele told the SAPS to stay focus no matter what at Creighton Police Station in Ingwe Municipality . PICTURE: SBUSISO NDLOVU 20/05/2011 Durban General Commissioner Bheki Cele told the SAPS to stay focus no matter what at Creighton Police Station in Ingwe Municipality . PICTURE: SBUSISO NDLOVU
Suspended police chief General Bheki Cele would love to get back to work and take care of “all the crime that his happening” in his absence.
Four months after Cele’s suspension, proceedings to be chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Yvonne Mokgoro, have yet to start.
Cele was suspended over allegations of maladministration involving a R500 million building lease agreement for a new police headquarters with property mogul Roux Shabangu.
Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s investigation resulted in the suspension of Cele, whose involvement in the lease she found unlawful, and the firing of then public works minister, Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde, last year.
An upbeat sounding Cele, last night responding to a telephone call and SMS from the Pretoria News, said he was unable to comment on the matter because he did not know what was happening.
“I am eager for them to start (proceedings) and hope it will be soon. At the moment I am feeling extremely bad over all the crime that is happening.
“It is clear that the criminals are taking over with shootings, attacks and other violent crimes happening everywhere. I would love to come back and get my hands back in and get these things sorted out,” he said.
Questions to Cele’s spokeswoman, Brigadier General Nonkululeko Mbatha, on when the hearing would be starting were referred to the Presidency. “The matter is being handled by their office accordingly. This was announced publicly when the inquiry was established,” she said. - Pretoria News