Cele a 'scapegoat' for Sunday Times
2012-03-26 07:42
Johannesburg - A spokesperson for suspended national police commissioner Bheki Cele has lambasted the Sunday Times for a report that claims Cele signed off on a dodgy R26m World Cup tender.
"How Cele suddenly becomes the fall guy here, only Sunday Times can tell," said Vuyo Mkhize in a statement on behalf of Cele.
"The Sunday Times decided to turn its biased guns onto its favourite bogey-man - Cele." He said Cele had become a "scapegoat" for the publication.
The newspaper reported that the contract awarded to Thoshan Panday, the owner of Goldcoast Trading, never went out to tender.
The contract was to provide accommodation to 1 280 police officers during the 2010 World Cup.
Treasury rules state that all government contracts worth more than R500 000 should follow a bid process.
It claimed three police officials in key positions were showered with gifts by Panday to ensure the deal was approved.
The deal was signed by Cele on June 7, 2010, after his officials said there was no time "to advertise the bid," according to the report.
Mkhize did not confirm nor deny the allegations by the newspaper.
- SAPA