Following today's report by the Sunday Times that General Bheki Cele owns a R4 million home, it should be placed on record that such account against the National Commissioner is slander. In his reaction to the headline Cele said, "The articles and several other ones recently carried by the newspaper are a clear indication of an onslaught waged against me. What is the hullabaloo? I pay a monthly rent of R8 968.00 towards the property". According to the police housing policy, members appointed or deployed for operational purposes qualify for the provision of a residential accommodation and the National Commissioner as an incumbent to the post falls within the category of such members. Therefore, the house referred to does not belong to General Cele but is and remains the property of the state.

Further, it should be noted as a fact that in the past the SAPS had owned residential premises for use by the National Commissioner but due to the reason that the recent National Commissioners owned houses in Gauteng it proved to be fruitless to keep such property and was thus sold. Upon the appointment of General Cele the need for official residence emerged but the Department of Public Works did not have any but was able to facilitate the acquisition of a house which would be occupied by the National Commissioner.

The acquisition of the residence is thought to have been above board and was done through Supply Chain Management Division. General Cele had nothing to sign for that pertain to the house - all inventory was procured through the Division belongs to the state. In purchasing the current residence occupied by General Cele, security factors had to be considered. It was noted that the alternative properties which were identified did not meet the minimum security requirements.

From August 1st this year to date, the Sunday Times seemingly embarked on a ‘mission' to lead with inaccurate stories about General Cele for an example, that he signed a lease agreement when in actual fact he had not. The paper was approached to retract and correct the article but to date nothing has become of the request. Last week's edition as well ran a headline that he deceived parliament which is untrue.

"These irregular reports by the Sunday Times will not distract my efforts of fighting crime and corruption but it is a concern that this particular newspaper is seemingly intent on reporting inaccurately and with impunity. I will continue to take up this matter with the press ombudsman and SANEF", said General Cele.

Statement issued by The Office Of The National Commissioner Of The South African Police Service, September 12 2010

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