AfriForum demands Minister of Police, Bheki Cele’s immediate dismissal
11 July 2022
The civil rights organisation AfriForum today demanded that President Cyril Ramaphosa immediately dismiss the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele. As an organisation, and the over 300 000 members, AfriForum represents, the organisation is deeply concerned about the conduct and failures of Cele.
It has recently come to light that the South African Police Service (SAPS) has lost more than 1 300 detectives in the last two years. In a country where 67 people are murdered daily, it is unacceptable that these personnel have not been replaced.
In another shocking incident at a community policing engagement in Gugulethu, Bheki Cele screamed “shut up!” and “get out!” repeatedly at a civil rights lobby group leader who was levelling criticism at Cele. The leader in question was then forcefully removed from the public meeting by SAPS officers. This disturbing incident was only the latest in a long list of incidents and failures, which AfriForum outlines in their letter, that demonstrate Cele’s unfitness for his position.
Add to this that in 2020 Cele also went on a rant against concerned citizens at a meeting of the farming community in Normadien. In the past few days Cele has also allegedly been implicated in a R47 million 2010 Fifa World Cup accommodation tender scandal.