Cele writes to Zuma - report
2012-05-29 07:30
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Police
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Johannesburg - Suspended police commissioner
General Bheki Cele has written to President Jacob Zuma asking to be reinstated,
according to a report on Monday.
The eNews channel reported that Cele had
asked Zuma to disregard a board of inquiry's recommendation that he be removed.
Cele reportedly argued that the board relied
too heavily on the evidence given against him and disregarded those who
testified for him.
Cele also reportedly submitted that there was
no evidence that his relationship with property tycoon Roux Shabangu was
questionable.
"I am not in a position to comment on
any communication Cele made or did not make with the president," said
Cele's spokesperson Vuyo Mkhize.
The board investigated allegations of
misconduct relating to two leases for new police headquarters in Pretoria and
Durban.
It recommended that Cele be fired and that a
criminal investigation be started into the irregular awarding of the leases,
which were worth R1.7bn.
On Friday, Cele said he intended bringing a
high court challenge against the report.
"It is not even about the validity.
There is no question whatsoever in Bheki Cele's mind... the report is
invalid," Mkhize said at the time.
"He is just going to court to satisfy
his view that the report is invalid."
Mkhize said the invalidity of the report was
apparent to rational and objective readers.
He declined to say when the court application
would be made, or if it had already been made.
"For every one voice that calls for him
to be fired, there are 100 calls for him to be reinstated," he said
Mkhize said calls for Cele's dismissal were
"nonsensical" and should "not be given any regard
whatsoever".
- SAPA
