Dianne Kohler Barnard
12 March 2014
DA MP says disgraced former police chief's nomination indicative of the ANC's un-seriousness about combating corruption
Bheki Cele's return an insult to South Africa
It is a disgrace that the controversial former National Police Commissioner, Bheki Cele, has been placed on the ANC's KwaZulu-Natal list for Parliament.
It is yet another indication that President Zuma's ANC is not serious about fighting corruption in South Africa.
The return of Mr Cele can simply not be justified. He has been the subject of two damning reports by the Moloi Police Board of Inquiry and the Public Protector, Adv Thuli Madonsela, respectively.
The Moloi Police Board of Inquiry recommended that criminal charges be considered and reportedly found Cele:
Guilty of gross misconduct regarding the procurement of the Sanlam Middestad and Transnet buildings in Pretoria and Durban;
Favoured buildings owned by property mogul Roux Shabangu;
Caused procurement processes of the SAPS supply chain management to be manipulated by Shabangu;
Failed to appreciate the nature and importance of responsibilities attached to his position;
Failed to appreciate the importance and consequences of the provisions of the Public Finance Management Act.
This Board of Inquiry followed the Public Protector's findings that Cele's conduct in the police lease deal scandal was improper, unlawful and amounted to maladministration.
As a result of these findings, the DA laid charges against him in 2011 at the Claremont Police station (CAS 91/08/2011). We are still, three years on, awaiting the outcome of what should have been a full investigation by the South African Police Service into this matter.
It is chilling to consider his ranking position on the ANC list. This no doubt places Mr Cele as a front runner for a Cabinet position should President Zuma be re-elected. South Africa cannot afford five more years of failure in the fight against crime.
The ANC's list reaffirms to South Africans that the Zuma administration is more concerned about securing jobs for pals than it is about fighting corruption, creating jobs and running a clean and efficient government.
The DA is committed to ensuring that we continue to do everything possible to put South Africa back on the path we set out on in 1994. That is why our selection process for our Members of Parliament was rigorous and ensured that we have the best list of candidates for the National Assembly.
South Africans now have a choice between two lists. They can have more of Bheki Cele, or they can stand together for change. They should make this choice clear on 7 May 2014.
Statement issued by Dianne Kohler Barnard MP, DA Shadow Minister of Police, March 12 2014
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