11 September 2025
Former police minister Bheki Cele has ignored a formal invitation to appear before Parliament’s ad hoc committee probing explosive allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, despite a response deadline of 10 September.
The committee, which met this week, heard from its Secretariat that Cele was contacted on 8 September but had yet to reply.
“The due date is today (10 September). So maybe if we get any response today, we can update members even if it is via the WhatsApp group,” the Secretariat said.
Committee Senior Counsel Advocate Norman Arendse confirmed that Cele remained the only high-profile witness who had not made contact.
“Except for Bheki Cele, we haven’t confirmed a date for a meeting to discuss a statement,” he told MPs.
Other senior officials, including Acting Minister Firoz Cachalia, Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, and suspended police Minister Senzo Mchunu, have complied with requests to engage, said Arendse.
Meanwhile, Mkhwanazi, the central figure in the inquiry, remains unavailable due to ongoing consultations ahead of his testimony at the Madlanga Commission next week.
Source: iol
