Cape Town - The recent revelations that Police Minister Bheki Cele had been informed of the possible suspects in shooting incidents that claimed the lives of local politicians at the Mkhondo Municipality in Mpumalanga four years ago, have raised questions about his integrity.
Earlier this month, Independent Media reported that assassinated Mpumalanga ANC councillor Sabelo Nhleko had predicted that he would soon be killed for standing up against corrupt politicians in his municipal area.
Nhleko, 36, was ambushed and gunned down with a friend at Long-homes Township near Piet Retief.
The suspects fled before the police and paramedics arrived. Nhleko’s killing followed the murder of Mkhondo PR councillor Muzi Manyathi, 41, who was gunned down at a fuel station in November last year.
During his visit to the bereaved families, Cele said he only knew about the names of suspects in the recent murders.
“The root cause of it is the non-arrest of the perpetrators. Some of them are really known, they have names, but (the job of the) police is not to come here and repeat the names.”
However, it later emerged that community members confronted Cele about three murders in the area during protests against then mayor Vusi Motha, who is facing charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Motha was arrested last week following the murder of councillor Sibonelo Ntshangase, who was gunned down with two other ANC members, Sizwe Mbingo and Sandile Khumalo, near Piet Retief on January 13.
Motha’s arrest followed a video in which the late Ntshangase told Mkhondo residents that should he be killed, they should blame Motha.
This flies in the face of Cele’s claims that he knew very little about political killings in the area. No wonder some community members and local leaders have lost confidence in him.
“That municipality is a bloodbath. We surely cannot pin our hopes on Minister Cele because he’s always arresting people even when police have no evidence that can stand in court,” said an ANC leader who asked not to be named.
Cele’s conduct also raises questions about whether he is the best person to lead the police in their quest to stem political killings in the area.
Cape Times