‘He only went to Parliament to save his skin’

Public Interest SA Chairperson Tebogo Khaas has taken a swipe at former Police Minister Bheki Cele, accusing him of serving personal interests rather than the public good throughout his political career.

Khaas said Cele’s recent appearance before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee investigating alleged criminal infiltration in the police was nothing more than an attempt to protect himself. “Former Police Minister Bheki Cele has done nothing in his lifetime in politics, especially since 1994 with the dawn of democracy, to act in the public interest,” Khaas asserted.

He claimed Cele’s testimony before Parliament lacked sincerity and accountability, arguing that the former minister’s statements were aimed at deflecting blame and shielding himself from potential scrutiny. “He went to Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee only to save his skin,” Khaas added.Khaas also criticised Cele’s handling of systemic corruption within the South African Police Service (SAPS), saying that under his leadership, the institution suffered from deepening inefficiency and declining public trust. He further suggested that Cele’s conduct reflects a broader failure of political leadership in maintaining integrity within law enforcement agencies.

The Ad Hoc Committee hearings have seen high-profile testimonies from current and former police ministers, including Senzo Mchunu, as it investigates allegations of political interference, the disbandment of critical investigative units, and links between senior officials and underworld figures.

Public interest watchdogs like Khaas’s organisation have repeatedly called for stronger oversight of the police ministry and accountability for those implicated in wrongdoing.

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