Career
He was appointed to this position in July 2009, replacing Jackie Selebi, who was suspended in January 2008 following charges of corruption. General Bheki Cele was dismissed as national police chief in June, 2012. "I have decided to release General Cele from his duties," Zuma told reporters in Pretoria.
He referred to the board of inquiry mandated to establish whether Cele acted corruptly, dishonestly, or with an undeclared conflict of interest in relation to two police lease deals signed with business tycoon Roux Shabangu—one for a building in Pretoria, another for a building in Durban.
"The board has found General Cele to be unfit for office and has recommended his removal from office in terms of the provisions of section 8(6)(b)(v) of the South African Police Service Acting Number. 68 of 1995," said Zuma.
Despite this, in November 2013, he was placed on the African National Congress"s list of preferred candidates to go to parliament. In January 2014, he attempted to delay the South African Public Protector"s report on wasteful expenditure at Nkandla - President Jacob Zuma’s private homestead.
Bheki Cele is under investigation, as evidence shows R1.7 billion rand spent on building leases were unlawful, improper and constituted maladministration.
Though suspended, South African taxpayers spend at least R1.3-million a year on his salary. In April 2009 he drew criticism for comments made at a rally in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, about the Inkatha Freedom Party, and its leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi. The remarks, insinuating French Institute of Petroleum propagation of illicit weaponry, were made against a background of political tension and violence in the Natal province.
Cele also played a role in the suspension of a three-day strike of the National Education, Health and Allied Workers" Union (Nehawu) over the failure to address their concerns regarding KwaZulu-Natal department of transport official Chris Hlabisa.
According to Nehawu"s Vusi Gama, they suspended the strike, which had been organised to call for Hlabisa"s sacking, after asking for a meeting with Cele. In September 2010, Cele made comments regarding the South African Police Service, telling them to "shape up or ship out", and saying "when you walk down the street, people must envy your body." One of his comments, "Stomach in, chest out", has become viral in South Africa and has inspired several techno remixes using audio from his speech.
