DA takes 'hasty' action against Cele

THE Democratic Alliance has laid criminal charges against national police commissioner General Bheki Cele and Minister of Public Works Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde, for their role in the R1 billion police headquarters lease

Last month Public Protector Thuli Madonsela found that both Cele and Mahlangu-Nkabinde had acted unlawfully and irregularly in awarding the tender to property mogul Roux Shabangu.

Madonsela recommended that President Jacob Zuma should take action.

Yesterday, DA federal chairperson Wilmot James said his party laid the charges because President Jacob Zuma was taking too long to act.

"We are hoping the investigation will take place and we expect that the course of law will proceed," James said. "Accountability needs to be taken soon for this kind of corruption."

The party has also laid charges against Shabangu and now suspended public works director-general Siviwe Dongwana.

In the DA's papers Cele is being charged with transgressing the Public Finance Act as police accounting officer.

Mahlangu Nkabinde is accused of contravening the Public Protector Act by failing to cooperate with Madonsela.

She is also charged for continuing with the impleme-ntation of the lease agreement in Pretoria despite Madonsela's warning not to do so until the report had been finalised.

Presidential spokesperson Mac Maharaj said it was unfortunate that the DA had laid the charges.

"It is unfortunate that they have been so hasty, Their actions carry the danger of reducing efforts to stamp out corruption in party politics," Maharaj said.

He said Madonsela's report was receiving attention since the president had called for more clarity from certain ministers.

ANC spokesperson Keith Khoza said the president had responded well on the matter.

"These are legal matters that require legal understanding in order to give appropriate feedback. Time for that kind of process needs to be taken into consideration and it does not take a day," Khoza said.

Madonsela's office has confirmed that Zuma had accepted her report. She, however, said while she was happy with the president's response she expected him to take action.

Madonsela's spokesperson, Kgalalelo Masibi, was quoted in the media as saying the Public Protector expected Zuma to "weigh the transgression and decide on the remedial action to be taken within a reasonable time frame".