EFF CALLS FOR THE REMOVAL OF BHEKI CELE AS MINISTER OF POLICE FOR CASTING ASPERSIONS ON COMMISSIONER OF POLICE KHEHLA SITHOLE

Tuesday, 15 February 2022

The EFF calls for the immediate removal of Bheki Cele for lying, unprovoked and casting aspersions on his own Commissioner of Police Khehla Sithole. This comes after Cele had to withdraw his nonsensical claim in Parliament, that the Commander in Chief and President of the EFF Julius Malema met with Sithole, to plot his removal.

In an idiotic statement, that came from a place of low self-esteem, Cele presented gossip to a house full of Parliamentarians, as if it was intelligence, by accusing the Commissioner of Police of conspiring with a leader of the opposition for his removal. Such an accusation is tantamount to treason.

The verbal diarrhoea Cele uttered came after a mere suggestion that a resolution to the conflict between him and the Commissioner, may be that he be moved to a different role within the State. Since Cele is obsessed with the position he holds, and thinks of it as a personal inheritance, he decided to embarrass himself by gossiping to the country.

Cele is the perfect example of exactly what is wrong with our Security cluster. He is a factionalist who could not stomach a peaceful resolution to a conflict that has led to an increase in crime, and has rendered the police force incompetent to protect the most vulnerable people in society.

Their war has meant women and children are abused even when they go to report Gender-Based Violence to the Police, it has led to an increase in cash-in-transit heists and violent crime in general. This is because the centre is not holding and Police have no authority guiding them.

Cele and Sithole's conflict has confused and split the police force, resulting in factions within a unit that should express the highest form of discipline. How can Police be disciplined and efficient in executing their duties, when their superior gossips when he takes a public platform, under oath?

Cele has shown he has no capacity or integrity to keep the position he holds, and if Ramaphosa wants to stabilise crime in this country, the removal of Bheki Cele is non-negotiable.

He is a delusional and self-obsessed individual, who cannot control his tongue, and has put the entire police force and government into disrepute. He belongs in a shebeen where he can gossip in peace without being challenged.

Statement issued by EFF, 15 February 2022