NATIONAL police commissioner General Bheki Cele woke up yesterday morning and continued with his job as usual. But a few hours later, President Jacob Zuma suspended him from his job pending an inquiry into the multi-billion rand police lease deal.
Cele launched his festive season operations at the Sisulu Cultural Centre in Matsulu, east of Nelspruit in Mpumalanga, where he commended police commissioner Lieutenant-General Thulani Ntobela for the good work he was doing in the province.
"Mpumalanga came out tops in crime reduction efforts during the past financial year. The province is however famous for the wrong reasons, including the 15 police officers that we arrested for stealing pigs.
"The media must note that not all police are corrupt and must write that those arrested were arrested by the police because you must give credit where it is due," Cele said.
Cele said the province had beefed up its resources in time for the festive season, with 500 additional police officers having been deployed to the province while 200 reservists were also appointed.
He said people were lying when they claimed that he had ordered police members to shoot to kill.
"Some even call me Mr Shoot to Kill when they see me passing by. I never said police must shoot to kill, I'm not saying it now and I will never say it.
"This is what I said: If you are called to a dangerous situation where criminals threaten to take your life, you must react. Criminals don't carry feather dusters or broomsticks but serious stuff, so we must also use our serious stuff to fight back.
"Even teachers have got chalks to use at school."
Cele's entourage proceeded to Malelane shopping complex where he interacted with local citizens.
Cele and Ntobela were expected to form part of a big roadblock later at the Nkomazi Toll Plaza.
Bheki Cele's last patrol
NATIONAL police commissioner General Bheki Cele woke up yesterday morning and continued with his job as usual. But a few hours later, President Jacob Zuma suspended him from his job pending an inquiry into the multi-billion rand police lease deal.
Cele launched his festive season operations at the Sisulu Cultural Centre in Matsulu, east of Nelspruit in Mpumalanga, where he commended police commissioner Lieutenant-General Thulani Ntobela for the good work he was doing in the province.
"Mpumalanga came out tops in crime reduction efforts during the past financial year. The province is however famous for the wrong reasons, including the 15 police officers that we arrested for stealing pigs.
"The media must note that not all police are corrupt and must write that those arrested were arrested by the police because you must give credit where it is due," Cele said.
Cele said the province had beefed up its resources in time for the festive season, with 500 additional police officers having been deployed to the province while 200 reservists were also appointed.
He said people were lying when they claimed that he had ordered police members to shoot to kill.
"Some even call me Mr Shoot to Kill when they see me passing by. I never said police must shoot to kill, I'm not saying it now and I will never say it.
"This is what I said: If you are called to a dangerous situation where criminals threaten to take your life, you must react. Criminals don't carry feather dusters or broomsticks but serious stuff, so we must also use our serious stuff to fight back.
"Even teachers have got chalks to use at school."
Cele's entourage proceeded to Malelane shopping complex where he interacted with local citizens.
Cele and Ntobela were expected to form part of a big roadblock later at the Nkomazi Toll Plaza.
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