Police Minister Bheki Cele Allegedly Under Investigation over R1 Billion Fraud
- KwaZulu-Natal police are said to be investigating Police Minister Bheki Cele for allegedly being involved in corruption and misuse of state funds
- Charges were laid by a civil rights group called Real Democracy that claims to have evidence implicating Cele
- Cele is alleged to have been involved in awarding tenders to a convicted drug dealer and former police officer, Timmy Marimuthu
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Police Minister Bheki Cele is said to be under investigation by the KwaZulu-Natal police for corruption and misappropriation of public funds totalling at least R1 billion while serving as MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison.
According to IOL, the probe into Cele was prompted by recent corruption allegations levelled by the citizens' rights group Real Democracy.
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Chairperson Srini Naidoo of Real Democracy said the charges were laid against Cele because the organisation's mandate was to expose state capture.
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Naidoo further stated in an affidavit that he had evidence that highlighted Cele's alleged corrupt dealings and accomplices.
"I have a video of Marimuthu explaining how he met Cele and amassed his fortune through their ’corrupt relationship," wrote Naidoo.
Panganathan "Timmy" Marimuthu is a convicted drug dealer, businessman and former policeman who was also implicated in the State Capture Commission of Inquiry in 2019, according to The Citizen. Despite being convicted for his crimes, Marimuthu never served any time.
The video evidence states that Marimuthu received tenders worth over R250 million through the help of Cele. Naidoo stated he had newspaper articles and two recordings of Cele and Marimuthu's conversations that illustrated the corrupt relationship between Cele and Marimuthu.
Captain Nqobile Gwala, a spokesperson for the KwaZulu-Natal provincial police, said that Real Democracy had filed a complaint but could not clarify whether it was against Cele, according to IOL.
Jacob Zuma: Cele says he will obey ConCourt order and not face contempt charges
Briefly News recently reported that Police Minister Bheki Cele said he will not go down for not enforcing the warrant of arrest for former president Jacob Zuma. The SAPS have until midnight on Wednesday to arrest the former president but the possibility of being charged for not doing so is a risk Cele is not willing to take.
When asked if he was aware that he could be held in contempt of court for not following through with the warrant, he said he was not prepared to be charged and would not disobey the court order.
The South African Police Service top cop and Commissioner Khehla Sitole is in the same predicament as he was Cele's right-hand man and faces the same charges.
Cele made the utterances when questioned by News24 on the eve of the deadline given to police to arrest Zuma by midnight on Wednesday.
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Source: Briefly News
