Bheki Cele Says EFF Is 'Heartless' After Claims About Ntumba's Funeral
- Police Minister Bheki Cele released a statement concerning the EFF's claims about Mthokozisi Ntumba's death
- EFF leader Julius Malema stated that Cele had promised to help Ntumba's family with funeral arrangements
- Cele denied the claims and stated that the EFF was trying to 'push a political agenda'
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Police Minister Bheki Cele has denied allegations by Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema that he discussed funeral arrangements with Mthokozisi Ntumba's family. The South African Police Service (SAPS) released a statement regarding this.
This follows Malema's visit with Ntumba's family after he was shot and killed during the Wits University protests recently. Since then, four officers have been arrested in connection with Ntumba's death.
Cele stated that he had visited the family of Ntumba to reassure them that the SAPS would work together with IPID. According to Cele, he passed his cellphone number on to the Ntumba family to call if they needed help with anything leading up to the investigations.
Source: Getty Images
The statement went on to say that the claims made by Malema are both false and misleading. Cele added that the allegations made by the EFF were 'heartless', adding that they used the pain of Ntumba's family to 'push a political agenda'.
Briefly.co.za recently reported that the EFF ensured their followers and Ntumba's family that it would help with funeral arrangements. Malema visited the home of Ntumba recently where he addressed supporters
Malema not only stated that the party would help with Ntumba's funeral but that the EFF would be going to the Constitutional Court to declare the usage of rubber bullets as unconstitutional. Malema also spoke about Police Minister Bheki Cele's visit with the family.
South Africans shared differing responses to Malema's speech in the replies section under the videos shared on Twitter by the EFF.
Cele also visited Ntumba's family. He called the death of the 35-year-old Wits bystander and father of three "inexcusable" and "unacceptable".
Cele was heard telling this to journalists after he visited the man's family at their Kempton Park home yesterday. He also said that the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) would need cooperation from everyone involved in the case, including Ntumba's family.
The 35-year-old was married with three children, the youngest child being under one year old, and had just completed his Master's degree while working at the Department of Human Settlements when he was gunned down by a rubber bullet allegedly shot by police officers trying to disperse the crowd of protestors outside of the Wits medical centre.
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Source: Briefly News
