Public protector to probe Bheki Cele’s world cup trip
Newly appointed Public Protector, Kholeka Gcaleka has confirmed that it will be investigating Police Minister Bheki Cele, who travelled to Paris to attend the Rugby World Cup last year, taking his assistant allegedly at the expense of the state.
According to Democratic Alliance’s shawod deputy poilce minister Okkie Terblanche, Minister of Police, Bheki Cele, and his assistant travelled to Paris to attend the Rugby World Cup.
“The Minister was funded by an as-yet unidentified “private company”, and his assistant was financed by the South African taxpayer who, despite a police budget already stretched to breaking point, sponsored Minister Cele’s assistant’s trip to the tune of R446 339.43,”said Terblanche .
Bheki Cele joined the likes of President Cyril Ramaphosa, Minister of Sport Zizi Kodwa, Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Ronald Lamola and former minister and now ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula in attendance at the match.
He said the Police Ministry spent just over R33,000 on his travel costs, but that the rest of his trip was sponsored by a private donor, meanwhile.
According to the EWN report, over R450,000 — straight from the state’s coffers — was spent on Bheki Cele’s executive assistant’s travelling and accommodation in France.
Cele’s spokesperson, Lirandzu Themba, said: “The developments from the Public Protector’s office have been noted.”
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