Bheki Cele clashes with MP’s in SAPS corruption probe, heated exchanges rock Ad Hoc Committee

By Johnathan Paoli

Former Police Minister Bheki Cele faced another combative session before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee investigating corruption and political interference in the South African Police Service (SAPS) on Friday afternoon, as committee members interrogated him about his tenure, his relationships with senior officers and his past remarks about fellow police leaders.

Cele faced questions by uMkhonto weSizwe Party’s David Skosana in the latter half of the day.

Skosana began by taking issue with Cele’s earlier praise for former National Police Commissioner Jackie Selebi, disputing his claim that Selebi had completed the amalgamation of South Africa’s fragmented police forces after 1994.

“Your assertion is wrong,” Skosana insisted, arguing that George Fivaz, not Selebi, had overseen the amalgamation.

Cele countered that Fivaz had initiated but not finalised the process, which Selebi later completed.

Skosana accused Cele of publicly disparaging former commissioners, including Riah Phiyega. Cele stood by his previous criticism,