Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, the commissioner of the KwaZulu-Natal Police, has taken a startling step back, admitting that his serious accusations against former Police Minister Bheki Cele were founded on false information, and has formally retracted them.
Cele was giving testimony under oath when this momentous event happened during a stormy session of Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee on Law Enforcement Accountability.
In the past, Mkhwanazi had utilised claimed financial details transferred between Cele and controversial businessman Vusimuzi Cat Matlala to accuse Cele of receiving money from Matlala. On Wednesday, though, Advocate Norman Arendse, who was in charge of the evidence, admitted that the forensics team had erred in their identification of the account number. As Arendse pointed out, the group made a mistake with the bank account number. There was no allusion to Minister Cele in it. After receiving an apology, Lieutenant-General Mkhwanazi withdrew the accusation.
Cele, keeping her cool, admitted to knowing Matlala but denied having any professional ties to her. Cele made it clear that she had no financial ties to the man. It’s been years since Matlala sent me any money.
This surprising decision has shaken the committee that is looking into widespread corruption and political meddling in the SAPS. Some lawmakers were glad to see the error corrected, while others cast doubt on Mkhwanazi’s reliability in her broader evidence.
With the investigation ongoing, this recantation marks a turning point that may alter the storyline about the leadership and responsibility of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
