I'm not guilty of corruption - Bheki Cele

2011-02-24 11:25

Pretoria - National police commissioner General Bheki Cele defended himself on Thursday against a finding by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela who found him guilty of improper conduct and maladministration.

"To my knowledge, only a court of law can find me guilty," he told reporters in Pretoria.

"To those who are baying for my resignation - my record speaks for itself," he added.

Cele said there was "unfairness" in the investigation conducted by the public protector.

Corruption

He also said he was not guilty of corruption. "I have been subjected to untrue allegations. Where in the public protectors' report does it show that I am corrupt?"

He said he disputed the findings against him.

On Tuesday in Pretoria, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela initially referred only to "the accounting officer" of the SA Police Service (SAPS) as being guilty of improper conduct.

She later said this was Cele.

She found that the accounting officer of the public works department was also guilty of improper conduct and maladministration.

Madonsela found invalid the lease between the public works department and property tycoon Roux Shabangu.

Lease

In her report, titled "Against the Rules", she asked for a National Treasury review to establish what steps could be taken to terminate the lease.

She said that although Cele did not sign the actual lease, he did sign a memorandum dated May 10 2010, which authorised funding for the lease.

Cele said that he was dependent on people who worked for him.

- SAPA