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The members of Parliament\u2019s Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations made by SAPS KwaZulu-Natal provincial head Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi have said that the testimony from former Minister Bheki Cele will be critical.<\/p>\n
Cele was the minister of Police from February 2018 to June 17, 2024, preceding the tenure of suspended Minister Senzo Mchunu.<\/p>\n
Cele is expected to give testimony on Thursday and Friday, and share insight into the oft-cited 2019 work study, which established a new SAPS structure without the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT), and which has been used by Mchunu as justification for his disbandment of the PKTT.<\/p>\n
uMkhonto weSizwe Party\u2019s (MKP) Thulani Shongwe said they anticipate Cele’s testimony being pivotal in shedding light on these matters.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs the former minister who oversaw the establishment and initial operations of the PKTT under the Inter-Ministerial Committee, Cele’s insights into its mandate, successes, and the 2019 work study (which Mchunu has cited as justification for disbandment) are essential.<\/p>\n
\u201cNotably, Lt-Gen Khumalo has already testified that Cele issued no operational directives to the team, receiving only progress reports, a stark contrast to Mchunu’s unilateral actions,\u201d Shongwe said.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiven MKP’s consistent calls for Cele to appear since the committee’s formation in August, we expect his evidence to clarify whether the PKTT’s dissolution was a legitimate efficiency measure or a capitulation to criminal influences, as alleged.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis could finally connect the dots on how political killings in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and beyond were allowed to persist unchecked. We look forward to rigorous questioning to ensure no stone is left unturned,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Freedom Front Plus\u2019 Wouter Wessels said: \u201cIt’s important to get former minister Bheki Cele\u2019s version, and concerning what was in front of him as minister, in terms of the ineffectiveness, the problems, and the complaints about the PKTT?<\/p>\n \u201cAnd if there is merit in that or not, because according to the version of Minister Mchunu, there were issues discussed during Cele\u2019s tenure already, and I think that is why it’s important to get his version as well.\u201d<\/p>\n The Democratic Alliance\u2019s Ian Cameron said: \u201cFrom what Minister Mchunu has said, it also seems that a lot of the issues popping up go far deeper than just the operations of the PKTT. Access to budget and\/or money seems to come up regularly.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe Cele’s appearance can assist us with more clarity, as much of what has happened was under his watch and some of it even reaching back to his tenure as national commissioner. It is likely that more skeletons will be revealed by his testimony.\u201d<\/p>\n ANC\u2019s Xola Nqola said: \u201cYou will recall that the evidence of the minister (Mchunu) does touch on the work study. We\u2019re here because of the work study, as the work study would have influenced how the organogram was structured. He must come and explain the work study, and all issues related to his tenure as minister of police\u2026 We want to know what happened.\u201d<\/p>\n ActionSA\u2019s Dereleen James said: \u201cWhen you actually understand how and when things unfolded, you then realise that the minister (Mchunu) is actually piggybacking off decisions that were made sort of outside of his decision. His decision more or less was very haphazard.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was allegedly prompted by the fact that there were 10 members deployed to the Counter-Intelligence that were sort of rattling cages. So, at this point, it’s going to be interesting to listen to former minister Bheki Cele.<\/p>\n \u201cAlready, I’ve just taken a squiz through his testimony, and I mean allegations that he says there that Minister Mchunu actually met with Cat Matlala. Well, we will wait until Thursday to hear more.\u201d<\/p>\n Inkatha Freedom Party\u2019s Mangaqa Albert Mncwango said: \u201cI think he has a lot to say about the activities of the PKTT, and he will be able to throw some light on certain aspects which are not clear. The current minister, to some extent, you might even feel sorry for him because he inherited some of the things that are beginning to emerge here.\u201d<\/p>\n theolin.tembo@inl.co.za<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The members of Parliament\u2019s Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations made by SAPS KwaZulu-Natal provincial head Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi have said that the testimony from former Minister Bheki Cele will be critical. Cele was the minister of Police from February 2018 to June 17, 2024, preceding the tenure of suspended Minister Senzo Mchunu. Cele is expected […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":256892,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[512,19417,224,431,1121,5087,6828,11234,1256,11116],"class_list":["post-256891","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-politics","tag-bheki","tag-cele039s","tag-expect","tag-killings","tag-mps","tag-political","tag-revelations","tag-task","tag-team","tag-testimony"],"yoast_head":"\n