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The official opposition is calling for an investigation into reports that Police Minister Bheki Cele may have misled Parliament when he said he was not involved in the unlawful procurement of phone call interceptors and surveillance devices.
Spying equipment cost R112 million
Democratic Alliance (DA) Shadow Minister of Police Andrew Whitfield’s complaint is based on a newspaper article by City Press, which suggests Cele has not yet been cleared of wrongdoing by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) despite what he said to Parliament in April.
City Press reported that the equipment Cele wished to purchase consisted of 12-vehicle mounted grabbers, a backpack grabber, an aerial grabber, and 15 drones.
The equipment reportedly cost R112 million. It was allegedly meant to be used to monitor politicians and journalists illegally. Cele’s initial purchase application was denied, but the equipment was procured and used for the alleged purpose anyway.
Cele denied allegations in Parliament in April
The newspaper reportedly obtained an email that suggested Cele was never cleared of wrongdoing. In April, he told Members of Parliament that he was not implicated by the NPA.
“Considering the seriousness of this claim and how poorly the Minister has performed at the helm of police services, the Democratic Alliance will call on the Chairperson of the Police Portfolio Committee in Parliament to have Cele account for these allegations and for the committee to investigate these claims,” said the DA’s Whitfield in a statement on Monday, 8 May.
Whitfield further indicated that the opposition party would closely monitor the NPA Investigative Directorate’s (ID) investigation into the matter to ensure implicated individuals are brought to book.
The DA has long had it in for the Minister of Police and previously launched a “Cele Must Go” campaign calling for President Cyril Ramaphosa to fire him.
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