Advocate Norman Arendse, the evidence leader, has delivered a significant update to Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee. He confirmed that KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, has formally retracted his serious allegation against former Police Minister Bheki Cele. The withdrawn claim alleged that Cele received money from businessman Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala....Click to Read More >>➤
Arendse informed the committee he received official notification of the withdrawal. This development is a key moment in the committee’s ongoing investigation. The probe focuses on allegations of corruption and political interference within South Africa’s criminal justice system, claims initially brought forward by Mkhwanazi himself.
Mkhwanazi’s withdrawal resulted from a critical data analysis error. According to Arendse, the investigative team incorrectly linked bank account details to the former minister. This factual inaccuracy led directly to the retraction of the allegation.
“Just before we adjourn, we received a text message,” Arendse told the committee. “Subsequently, we had a short conversation with the Lieutenant-General Mkhwanazi in which he says that this allegation is withdrawn. The team working on the analysis got the bank account number wrong. It is not a reference to you (Cele).”
This formal withdrawal of the allegation against Bheki Cele marks a pivotal turn in the proceedings. The committee will continue its work, but this specific claim is now off the table.
Cele Raises Alarm Over Loss of Elite Police Officers
In a separate but related development, Bheki Cele, while appearing before the same committee, raised a serious concern. He revealed that the state has lost dozens of highly trained Special Task Force officers to the private sector.
Cele disclosed that 56 specialized members left the police unit for private employment, including within the security and taxi industries. He did not specify the exact timeframe for these losses but highlighted it as a troubling trend he had tried to address as 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,” Cele stated. He emphasized the immense investment in each officer, noting, “Fifty-six. Now, I am told that to train one member of a Special Force Task Team is R1.1 million to be an all-rounder. We have lost 56 to the taxi industry.”
The allegations that prompted this parliamentary inquiry first gained public attention in July. Mkhwanazi made the initial claims during a media briefing, drawing national focus to issues of corruption and political interference. The withdrawal of the specific allegation against Cele is a major development as the committee continues its broader work. ...Click to Read More >>➤
