Cele's axing: Disgraced police boss must go, but not to cushy diplomatic post

Reports today that National Police Commissioner Bheki Cele has finally been fired by President Jacob Zuma for his role in the SAPS lease deals saga must be welcomed (see Sunday Independent report).

In her investigations into the deals earlier this year, the Public Protector found Cele to have acted in a manner that was "improper, unlawful and amounted to maladministration".

In addition, reports this morning indicate that, under Commissioner Cele's watch as Chief Financial Officer of the SAPS, disgraced former Crime Intelligence boss Joey Mabasa was given a R3.5 million golden handshake and credit for a further 14 years to boost his pension. This shows the extent to which ineptitude and criminality have been rewarded in the SAPS during Commissioner Cele's tenure.

Government appointees must be held accountable for their actions, and appropriate steps taken against them should they abuse their power.  However, Commissioner Cele's firing must not preclude him from any criminal or other investigations into the controversial SAPS lease deals.

Commissioner Cele's misconduct must certainly not be rewarded with the diplomatic post he has reportedly been offered. Has the President considered the implications for South Africa's relationship with Canada should a disgraced bureaucrat be named our ambassador to that country?

Instead of punishing high-ranking government officials for misconduct, there is a tendency to reward them with cushy postings abroad.

Former Western Cape Premier Ebrahim Rasool was never held accountable for orchestrating the unlawful Erasmus Commission or the allegations of brown envelope journalism against him. Instead, he was posted to Washington as our Ambassador to the USA.

Other disgraced ministers who have received diplomatic posts are the former Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities Noluthando Mayende-Sibiya and the former Minister of Labour Membathisi Mdladlana.

Their postings are an embarrassment to our country, and Commissioner Cele should not be allowed to join their ranks.

I will be writing to President Zuma to ask that he ensures that the National Police Commissioner is removed from his position as soon as possible. I will also request that the President abandons his misguided policy of appointing unqualified civilians, rather than career policemen, to the position of National Police Commissioner. The disastrous tenures of former police boss Jackie Selebi and Commissioner Cele are proof that this policy cannot be allowed to continue.

The National Police Commissioner's actions have eroded public faith in the work of the SAPS, and he must be held accountable for this. He should not be rewarded for it with an ambassadorial posting. 

Statement issued by Dianne Kohler Barnard MP, DA Shadow Minister of Police, October 16 2011

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