Zuma receives board's report on Cele

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma has received a report from the Board of Inquiry appointed to investigate alleged misconduct by suspended National Police Commissioner General Bheki Cele.

According to the Presidency, the board's chairperson Judge Jakes Moloi presented the report to Zuma on Sunday.

"The President is studying the report and its findings and will make his response known in due course," the Presidency added.

The board was appointed to look into allegations of misconduct by Cele and to pronounce on his fitness for office or his capacity to execute his official duties efficiently. This is in relation to the procurement of office space for police in Pretoria and Durban, and Public Protector Thuli Madonsela's findings regarding these deals.

During her investigation into the lease agreements, Madonsela found that Cele's conduct as SAPS' accounting officer was improper and unlawful, which amounted to maladministration.

In November last year, Zuma announced the establishment of the Board of Inquiry to probe the allegations.

The board was mandated to enquire whether Cele acted corruptly, or whether he, in relation to the processes leading up to the conclusion of leases for the SAPS at the Middestad building in Pretoria and the Transnet building in Durban, failed to prevent the contravention of the provisions of the Public Finance Management Act 1 of 1999, among others.