By Johnathan Paoli
Former Police Minister Bheki Cele faced a bruising night in front of Parliament’s ad hoc committee probing corruption and political interference in SAPS on Thursday, fending off allegations that he fraternised with attempted murder-accused tenderpreneur Vusimusi ‘Cat’ Matlala, meddled in internal police affairs, and failed to act against officials implicated in wrongdoing.
Evidence leader Advocate Norman Arendse opened the afternoon session — which ended up running late into Thursday night — by confronting Cele over his relationship with Matlala, citing meetings at Durban’s Beverly Hills Hotel and Zimbali Estate, as well as reports that Cele had stayed twice at Matlala’s Pretoria penthouse.
Cele admitted to attending the 2024 Umhlanga meeting, arranged by an associate named “Mabongwa”, but denied knowing Matlala personally at the time.
Pressed on whether he knew of Matlala’s company securing a since-cancelled R360 million police health services tender, Cele replied: “Ministers don’t sign tenders.
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