Former Police Minister Bheki Cele has accepted the withdrawal of an allegation linking him to Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala, a suspect in an attempted murder case. The withdrawal was confirmed by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi during testimony before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee investigating claims of criminal infiltration, corruption, and political interference in the justice system.
On Thursday, the committee’s Evidence Leader, Advocate Norman Arendse, read a message from Mkhwanazi clarifying that the bank account number initially cited in the allegation was incorrect, and that Cele was not the recipient of any funds.
Cele, who served as Police Minister from 2018 to 2024, told MPs he accepts the explanation, describing the incident as an honest mistake. “One police officer I like is Mkhwanazi because he knows his work, but Mkhwanazi is human and makes mistakes. I believe it’s genuine,” Cele said.
During the hearing, Cele also addressed his past interactions with Matlala, noting he had met him a few times and allowed him to use his penthouse, but emphatically denied ever receiving any cash or favours from the attempted murder suspect. Responding to questions from Economic Freedom Fighters MP Leigh-Ann Mathys, Cele said: “It has never been said and I never thought so… I would say I never received cash from him.”
The development clears Cele of any financial impropriety in relation to Matlala, while the parliamentary inquiry continues to probe broader allegations of corruption and political interference within the police and justice system.