Pretoria, July 29: KwaZulu-Natal MEC Bheki Cele has been appointed as the new national commissioner of police, President Jacob Zuma said on Wednesday.
Cele will step into Jackie Selebi’s shoes in August.
“We pledge that over the next five years the criminal justice system will be overhauled and that crime levels will be reduced. The filling of a key position within the SAPS (SA Police Service) is a key factor towards the achievement of this goal,” Zuma told a media briefing in Pretoria.
Cele had “distinguished himself in a number of areas including finding solutions to taxi conflicts in the province… successful anti-crime campaigns as well as improving road safety on provincial roads and highways”, Zuma said.
“We have no doubt that Mr Cele will lead the South African Police Service efficiently and effectively.”
Cele will leave his post as KwaZulu-Natal MEC for transport and community and safety liaison to take up the position.
Special leave
Selebi, whose contract expires on Friday, was placed on special leave last year pending his court case on alleged corrupt activities and defeating the ends of justice.
This was after the National Prosecuting Authority said it would lay charges against him for allegedly receiving corrupt payments totalling R1.2m from his friend Glenn Agliotti, a convicted drug smuggler accused of playing a role in the 2005 murder of mining magnate Brett Kebble.
Announcing that Selebi was going on leave, then president Thabo Mbeki said: “I must say that he himself was of the view that it should happen, so that whatever might happen in the courts about him he ought not to be sitting at police headquarters.”
Mbeki appointed Timothy Williams, deputy national commissioner responsible for crime intelligence, to act in Selebi’s place.
Even though Selebi was no longer at work, last year his contract was renewed by Mbeki for another 12 months.
Western Cape police commissioner Mzwandile Petros, divisional commissioner Raymond Lalla and acting deputy commissioner Andre Pruis were among the names rumoured to be in the running for commissioner.
The investigation into Selebi dates back to 2006 and was reported to Mbeki later in the year by then head of the NPA Vusi Pikoli.
It has since emerged that Mbeki had asked for two weeks to prepare the country before the intention to lay charges was made public.
—Agencies