Bheki Cele

Before the Ad Hoc Committee investigating Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi's allegations, businessman Vusimuzi Matlala acknowledged handing former Police Minister Bheki Cele 500,000 rand in cash in two payments, linking them to a request for assistance concerning police operations and the return of firearms. Under questioning, Matlala acknowledged understanding why the payments were described as bribes. The evidence leaders' May 2026 report found that the allegations against Cele required further investigation.

Attribution

Accused

In April 2026, Daphney Manamela, the suspended Mpumalanga Provincial Police Commissioner, accused former Police Minister Bheki Cele of interfering in investigations, particularly the Hillary Gardee case, and of insisting on Mandla Msibi's arrest without sufficient evidence, according to her testimony. She also alleged political use of SAPS resources, including a police helicopter.

State of the evidence

Alleged

Attribution

Accused

Cele's trip to France for the 2023 Rugby World Cup final prompted an ethics complaint: his main stay was sponsored by SuperSport, while SAPS had borne almost half a million rand in costs, particularly for his executive assistant and certain expenses. The opposition questioned whether private sponsorship created a conflict of interest and whether public expenditure was justified.

Attribution

Directly implicated

During a police imbizo in July 2022, Cele became angry with anti-crime activist Ian Cameron and shouted at him to be quiet. In 2023, Parliament's ethics committee found that Cele had breached the MPs' code of conduct and recommended a sanction including a public apology.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Documents and reports indicated that Cele, then National Police Commissioner, had signed an approval linked to a police accommodation contract for the 2010 World Cup awarded to Thoshan Panday's company without a normal tender process. Panday and former police officers were subsequently prosecuted in the wider case concerning contracts linked to the tournament.

State of the evidence

Alleged

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

The July 2021 riots prompted severe criticism of intelligence services and the police. A panel of experts appointed by the President concluded that police forces had failed to stop the looting and rioting; Cele, as Police Minister, was questioned about preparedness, intelligence sharing and coordination of the response.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Political responsibility

In July 2022, Cele stated that the police did not recruit people with tattoos because they had a "tendency to be gangsters". The South African Police Union condemned the statement as factually incorrect and discriminatory, pointing out that the regulations mainly concerned whether tattoos were visible in uniform.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Personally implicated

During the 2020 lockdown, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate recorded hundreds of cases linked to COVID-19 operations, including assaults, deaths associated with police action, corruption and use of firearms. Parliament, rights organisations and observers criticised the brutality and heavy-handed enforcement of the rules under Bheki Cele's political authority.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Command responsibility

The Public Protector had found that Cele and SAPS had failed to protect two whistleblowers, Thabiso Zulu and Lesley Stuta, witnesses in corruption and violence cases in KwaZulu-Natal, holding that the failure could expose them to a fatal risk. Cele sought judicial review of the report.

Attribution

Political responsibility

As National Police Commissioner, Cele was at the centre of controversy over SAPS property leases. The Public Protector and a commission of inquiry criticised his conduct; the commission found him dishonest and unfit, prompting Jacob Zuma to dismiss him in 2012. In April 2019, however, the Pretoria High Court set aside the commission's report and the dismissal decision.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Three days after the Sunday Times published an investigation into police property leases implicating Cele, journalist Mzilikazi wa Afrika was arrested. The day before his arrest, Cele had publicly called him a "shady" journalist and attacked the article. Wa Afrika subsequently obtained compensation for wrongful arrest; the Police Minister's settlement letter acknowledged that the arrest was wrongful and illegal.

Cele sparked lasting controversy with statements encouraging a lethal response against armed criminals. He disputed having used the exact phrase "shoot to kill" while standing by forceful remarks that police officers should not hesitate when facing an armed threat. The controversy fuelled debate over the legal limits on use of force.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Personally implicated