CELE CALLED BY COP PROBE

FORMER Police Minister Bheki Cele has been added to the names of witnesses expected to testify before Parliament’s ad hoc committee probing serious allegations of corruption, political interference, and mismanagement within the South African Police Service (SAPS). 

The committee was established following bombshell allegations made on 6 July 2025 by KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who publicly accused senior political and police officials of obstructing sensitive investigations and attempting to dismantle the Political Killings Task Team in KZN

During his briefing, Mkhwanazi presented digital evidence, including WhatsApp chats allegedly extracted from mobile devices, which he claimed revealed coordinated interference by high-ranking individuals.

He specifically named suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, his associate Brown Mogotsi, and businessman Vusumuzi “Cat” Matlala as central figures in the alleged effort.

Ad hoc committee chairperson Lekganyane Molapi confirmed Cele’s inclusion in the witness list.

Molapi said: “The chairperson signed seven letters to the seven persons that have been named. Secondly, in the invitation, there is no person who has been given a date of appearance before the committee.”

The list of invitees includes Mchunu, Mkhwanazi, National Commissioner Fannie Masemola, Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya, Deputy Ministers Polly Boitshelo and Cassel Mathale, and Acting Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia

Molapi emphasised the urgency of the process, saying, “We had planned that the committee would start its work by the 10th of September.”

While no formal schedule has been communicated to the witnesses, Molapi confirmed that the committee has decided the order in which testimonies will be heard. “The order still stands that the first person who will appear before this committee is General Mkhwanazi,” he said.

However, Mkhwanazi has requested a deferral of his appearance due to prior commitments with the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System, chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga.

The Madlanga Commission was expected to commence its public hearings on 1 September. That date was missed due to ICT issues, with the Commission later announcing that hearings would begin on 17 September instead.