Police lease scandal: Cele must go

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is deeply concerned about the damning findings of a provisional report compiled by Public Protector Advocate Thuli Madonsela into dodgy police leases in Durban and Pretoria, as reported in today's Sunday Times (see here).

In what must surely prove to be the last straw when it comes to the National Police Commissioner Bheki Cele's career, Adv Madonsela's findings include that he was guilty of "maladministration" and "unlawful" conduct, and that Minister of Public Works Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde was guilty of "improper" conduct. The DA today reiterates it call for the National Police Commissioner, Bheki Cele, to resign or, if he refuses to go, to be dismissed by the President.

There can be no question that Commissioner Cele's position is no longer tenable. The DA objected to his appointment, saying he was unfit for the position. The Public Protector's most recent report reiterates the findings of her earlier investigation into the first Pretoria lease scandal, that he is not fit for office.

We have already seen the indignity caused to our justice system by a police commissioner who disobeys the law. President Zuma repeatedly states his commitment to rooting out corruption and his drive to curb maladministration. If Commissioner Cele refuses to leave, then it is now for President Zuma to turn his words into action.

The Zuma administration's repeated commitments to promoting democratic values such as accountability and transparency will continue to ring hollow, if the President is unable to act decisively against misconduct and gross abuse of power by members of his own cabinet.

If the President refuses to act against the Police Commissioner, it raises questions about just what our head of Police needs to do to be removed from his position. It seems that, in this administration, political patronage ensures that members of the executive are beyond reproach.

The Minister of Police, Nathi Mthetwa, told me in the National Assembly to ‘just wait' for the results of the investigation - and I have. Now no further excuses may be countenanced. Cele must go, and he must go now.

The DA will closely scrutinise the contents of Adv Madonsela's full report when it is released, as will, no doubt, those drummed out of their SAPS positions because they allegedly refused to sign off on these dodgy deals.

Statement issued by Dianne Kohler Barnard MP, DA Shadow Minister of Police, June 19 2011

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