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Bheki Cele

From Wikipedia
Bheki Cele
human
Ein sex anaa gendermale Edit
Ein country of citizenshipSouth Africa Edit
Name wey dem give amBheki Edit
Family nameCele Edit
Ein date of birth22 April 1952 Edit
Place dem born amUmzumbe Edit
Languages edey speak, rep anaa signEnglish Edit
Ein occupationpolitician, police officer, minister Edit
Position eholdmember of the National Assembly of South Africa, member of the National Assembly of South Africa, Minister of Police Edit
Political party ein memberAfrican National Congress Edit
Described at URLhttps://www.parliament.gov.za/person-details/4122, https://www.pa.org.za/person/bhekokwakhe-hamilton-cele/ Edit

Bhekokwakhe "Bheki" Hamilton Cele (born 22 April 1952)[1][2] be former South African Minister of Police from February 2018 go 17 June 2024.[3] He be National Commissioner of de South African Police Service for two years, but allegations of misconduct make dem suspend am for October 2011, den later remove am for June 2012.[4] He sana serve as Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry plus Fisheries, insyd de KwaZulu-Natal Executive Council, den for de KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature. He be member of de National Executive Committee of de African National Congress, den dem jail am for Robben Island during apartheid time.[5][6]

Life den career

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Cele be person wey dem born on 22 April 1952 for Umzumbe, Natal (wey now be KwaZulu-Natal). He get teacher ein diploma, den for 1980, he be one of de people wey start de progressive, non-racial National Education Union of South Africa. During exile for Angola insyd de mid-1980s, he join Umkhonto we Sizwe, den dem jail am for Robben Island from 1987 till dem release am plus anoda political prisoners for 1990.[6][7]

1994-2009: KwaZulu-Natal government

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Insyd de 1994 elections, Cele win go de KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature. While he dey serve for de legislature, he be Chairperson of de Portfolio Committee on Safety plus Security, den later he be chairperson of chairpersons. From 2004, he serve as Member of de Executive Council (MEC) for Transport, Community Safety plus Liaison for KwaZulu-Natal.[8][9]

2009-present: National government

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Insyd July 2009, dem appoint am as National Commissioner of de South African Police Service (SAPS). Dem sack am for June 2012 after some allegations come out say he involve for property deals wey no follow law. After dat, he serve as Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry plus Fisheries from May 2014 till late February 2018, wey President Cyril Ramaphosa appoint am as Minister of Police insyd ein first cabinet reshuffle. Reaction wey people get for Cele ein appointment mix. After de 2019 general election, dem reappoint am as police minister. But for de 2024 general election, Cele lose ein seat for de National Assembly.[10]

ANC membership

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Cele still be member of de African National Congress (ANC), den right now he dey serve for de party ein chief executive organ, de National Executive Committee. Insyd mid-1990s, he be safety plus security spokesman for de party ein KwaZulu-Natal branch, den insyd de 2000s he serve as party chairman for de eThekwini region. Insyd de 2000s, people see Cele as person wey dey support Jacob Zuma.[11][12][13][14] But when de ANC leadership elections come hard insyd 2017, he stand plus Cyril Ramaphosa against Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.[15][16]

Controversies

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"Shoot-to-kill" remarks den use of deadly force

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Insyd July 2007, The Sowetan talk say Cele, wey be MEC for safety insyd KwaZulu-Natal by dat time, talk for one meeting wey happen for Durban say police suppose “shoot to kill” when dem face criminals, plus he make other statements wey support use of deadly force. Even though Cele deny say he talk “shoot to kill,” he agree say he make some similar statements like, “We no fit allow make criminals dey kill police. Once criminals pull gun, police for aim dem head.” Insyd 2010, Cele take The Sowetan go court for defamation matter, wey he claim R200,000 as damages because of two reports wey dem publish for 2007, including one wey dem post together plus digitally edited photo of Cele wey he dey hold gun. De court throw de case away. One reporter from The Sowetan testify say he dey insyd de meeting for Durban wey he hear Cele talk de things, den de court point out say de only anoda newspaper wey send reporter come dat meeting, The Citizen, too report say Cele talk make police shoot to kill.[17]

Insyd August 2009, just few time after Cele take office as National Commissioner of SAPS, one national controversy come up as dem talk say he repeat de “shoot to kill” statement to Weekend Argus. As he dey talk about one proposed change to Section 49 of de Criminal Procedure Act, wey dey explain when person fit use deadly force legally, reports talk say Cele mention say police suppose fit “shoot to kill” criminals without fear of “wetin go happen after dat.” But when he talk to Los Angeles Times, Cele deny say he talk make police shoot to kill — he explain say ein main point be say e no safe for police officers to dey doubt whether dem fit use deadly force if dem face armed criminal. Insyd anoda place, he clarify say police no for shoot innocent people, but dem for “defend demself well well” against armed den dangerous criminals. When dem ask am again for 2018 after he become Minister of Police, he still deny say he talk “shoot to kill,” but he talk say, “I’ve said dat... when police dey deal plus de hard brutal criminals, dem no for die plus gun for demma hand, den I still stand by dat.” Since dat time, he talk am many times say SAPS officers for use deadly force when e dey necessary.[18][19][20][21]

Conflict plus Inkatha Freedom Party

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Insyd January 2009, during de time wey elections dey come, Cele dey present for one tense situation between ANC supporters den Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) supporters during one ANC rally for Nongoma, KwaZulu-Natal. De IFP talk say Cele provoke police make dem “brutalize” IFP supporters. But Cele talk say dis accusation be defamation, so insyd February, he carry matter go court make dem stop de publication of de claims.[22] De court dismiss de application.[23]

Roux Property Fund property deals

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Insyd early 2011, when Cele be National Commissioner of SAPS, de Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela, find say government lease office buildings for Pretoria plus Durban – wey dem plan make e serve as police headquarters – but de price dem pay be too high. De leases cost more than R1.5 billion den dem sign am plus Roux Property Fund. Madonsela talk say de deals be “unlawful” den “illegitimate,” den she hold Cele plus Minister of Public Works, Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde, responsible. She talk say Cele ein conduct be “improper, unlawful and amount to maladministration.” Even though he no sign de Pretoria lease einself, he sign one memo wey authorise funding for de lease.[24] Cele deny say he do anything wrong.[4]

Insyd October 2011, de then President Jacob Zuma suspend Cele wey he still dey get ein pay, as dem wait for outcome of one inquiry wey former judge Jake Moloi chair, wey go look into whether Cele misconduct einself. One of de questions wey de board of inquiry chase be de level of Cele ein relationship plus Roux Shabangu of de Roux Property Fund — say if Cele ein action no just be unlawful but e bi corrupt too, like some people talk. De inquiry board find say Cele no dey honest den he no fit hold dat office, so dem recommend make dem sack am. On 12 June 2012, Zuma announce say he fire Cele based on de findings. But nearly seven years later, for April 2019, de Pretoria High Court cancel de inquiry ein report after long legal battle wey Cele fight to clear ein name.[25][26][27]

Whistleblower protection

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Insyd 2018, de Public Protector, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, claim say Cele plus SAPS no provide personal protection for two whistleblowers wey report corruption matter insyd Umzimkulu municipality for KwaZulu-Natal. But Cele carry de report go court for judicial review, den for 2020, de Gauteng North High Court declare de report invalid, clear Cele from any wrongdoing. De court talk say, based on wetin de law talk, no be police ein responsibility to make sure say witnesses plus whistleblowers get personal protection.[28]

COVID-19 pandemic

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During de COVID-19 pandemic for 2020, some people criticize how Cele lead de police, say he dey do “excessive policing” to enforce de lockdown rules.[29][30]

Gun control

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Cele dey support strict gun control, den he talk say he no believe say private citizens for get right to own firearms. One gun control law wey dem bring insyd ein ministry insyd 2021, wey be Firearms Control Amendment Bill, face opposition from some civil society groups.[31][32][33][34][35] De proposed law talk say self-defence no go count as valid reason to apply for firearm license.[36] Cele defend de Bill say most of de murders for South Africa dey happen through firearms.[36]

Incident plus Ian Cameron

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For one event wey happen insyd Gugulethu, Police Minister Bheki Cele get confrontation plus Ian Cameron, wey be director of community safety for Action Society, one non-profit organisation wey dey focus on violent crime. Dis incident happen during one community policing engagement, where Cameron make some comments say de community dey forced to do police ein work, wey provoke Cele. Cele reply am with talk about ein experience during apartheid time, den he shout “shut up” give Cameron before officials carry Cameron commot from de place. Later, Cameron talk say ein issue no be Cele as person but de position wey he dey hold and how he dey handle crime matters. Dis incident show say tension dey plus different views dey on how community safety for work, how effective police dey, den who get de responsibility to deal plus crime.[37]

References

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  1. ↑ "Bheki Cele, Gen". South African Government. Archived from the original on 21 March 2021. Retrieved 2020-12-17.
  2. ↑ South African Government. "Bheki Cele, Gen". www.gov.za. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  3. ↑ Plessis, Carien du (2018-02-27). "Cabinet Reshuffle: SA government gets a full makeover". Daily Maverick (in English). Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  4. 1 2 "South Africa police chief Bheki Cele fired by Jacob Zuma" (in British English). BBC News. 2012-06-12. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  5. ↑ "The National Executive Committee". African National Congress. 2018-04-23. Archived from the original on 2018-04-23. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  6. 1 2 Dixon, Robyn (2009-09-27). "South Africa struggles with rising crime". Los Angeles Times (in English). Johannesburg. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  7. ↑ "Bheki Cele". KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport. 2004. Archived from the original on 10 August 2009. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  8. ↑ "Why I chose Bheki Cele - Jacob Zuma". Politicsweb (in English). 2009-07-29. Archived from the original on 10 November 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  9. ↑ "Bheki Cele". People's Assembly (in English). Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  10. ↑ Merten, Marianne (2024-06-05). "The ANC haemorrhaging continues — Cele, Modise, Zulu and Pandor won't return as MPs". Daily Maverick (in English). Retrieved 2024-06-05.
  11. ↑ "Once they were comrades, now Cele arrests Zuma, who fired him as police commissioner". The Mail & Guardian (in English). 2021-07-07. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  12. ↑ Jasson da Costa, Wendy (2009-07-30). "Cele shoots from the hip". IOL (in English). Archived from the original on 10 November 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  13. ↑ "South Africa police chief Bheki Cele in 'unlawful deal'" (in British English). BBC News. 2011-07-14. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  14. ↑ Plessis, Carien du (2011-09-23). "Zuma to Cele: Tell me why you shouldn't leave". Daily Maverick (in English). Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  15. ↑ "Cele poised to intensify role in #CR17". The Mail & Guardian (in English). 2017-10-20. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  16. ↑ Head, Tom (2017-12-11). ""Dlamini-Zuma will keep ANC under Gupta control" - Minister Bheki Cele". The South African (in English). Archived from the original on 21 October 2020. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  17. ↑ "Cele v Avusa Media Ltd (08/10831)". SAFLII. 2013-02-14. Archived from the original on 10 November 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  18. ↑ Nkosi, Nomazina (2019-12-24). "Use deadly force – Bheki Cele". The Sunday Times (in English). Archived from the original on 24 December 2019. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  19. ↑ "Police allowed to use deadly force when under attack: Cele". SABC News (in American English). 2019-02-22. Archived from the original on 22 February 2019. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  20. ↑ Nair, Nivashni (2019-11-06). "'Criminals don't carry feather dusters' - Cele tells cops not to die with a gun in their hands". The Sunday Times (in English). Archived from the original on 6 November 2019. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  21. ↑ "Cele tells police officers to use 'deadly force' to protect South Africans, themselves". East Coast Radio. 2020-12-18. Archived from the original on 18 December 2020. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  22. ↑ "Cele waits on outcome of court bid". The Mail & Guardian (in English). 2009-08-21. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  23. ↑ Kuppan, Irene (2009-09-09). "Cele demands an apology". Independent Online (in English). South Africa. Archived from the original on 10 November 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  24. ↑ "Cele found guilty". IOL (in English). 2011-02-23. Archived from the original on 2 May 2020. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  25. ↑ "Zuma's decision to fire Bheki Cele in 2012 set aside". The Citizen (in English). 2019-04-09. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  26. ↑ Bateman, Barry (2019-04-09). "High Court sets aside 2012 decision to fire Bheki Cele as police commissioner". EWN (in English). Archived from the original on 9 April 2019. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  27. ↑ Mabuza, Ernest (2019-04-09). "Court sets aside Jacob Zuma's 2012 decision to axe Bheki Cele as top cop". The Sunday Times (in English). Archived from the original on 9 April 2019. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  28. ↑ Mahlangu, Thato (2020-06-11). "Cele cleared of wrongdoing by court, PP's report set aside". Corruption Watch (in British English). Archived from the original on 5 September 2020. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  29. ↑ Thebus, Shakirah (2021-01-08). "Crime-riddled communities criticise excessive policing of Cape Town beaches". IOL (in English). Archived from the original on 8 January 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  30. ↑ "Police union slams Cele as it asks Ramaphosa to intervene in 'feud' with national commissioner". The Sowetan (in English). 2021-06-17. Archived from the original on 17 June 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  31. ↑ Meyer, Dan (2021-06-07). "Firearms: SAPS accused of 'giving guns to gangs while disarming citizens'". The South African (in English). Archived from the original on 7 June 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  32. ↑ Merrington, Zalene (2021-05-24). "Outcry against firearms control amendment bill aimed to scrap gun ownership for self defence". SABC News (in American English). Archived from the original on 24 May 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  33. ↑ Coetzer, Marizka (2021-08-04). "'Police incapable of protecting public,' say critics of new gun laws". The Citizen (in English). Archived from the original on 4 August 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  34. ↑ Panchia, Yeshiel (2021-06-18). "Fire And Fury: The Debate Around Gun Ownership in South Africa". Forbes Africa (in English). Archived from the original on 18 June 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  35. ↑ Mlamla, Sisonke (2021-08-05). "Gun owners await outcome of Firearms Bill as public participation ends". IOL (in English). Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  36. 1 2 Shoba, Sandisiwe (2021-06-12). "Firearms Control Amendment Bill: The dark side of the war of words over proposed gun regulations". Daily Maverick (in English). Archived from the original on 13 June 2021. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  37. ↑ Retief, Hanlie (26 July 2020). "Hanlie Retief gesels met Ian Cameron". Netwerk24. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
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