Could be the first victory for Bheki Cele
THE first day of the Bheki Cele inquiry laid bare major holes in the state's star witness' testimony yesterday, revealing how the controversial R1.67-billion police headquarters deal was fast-tracked on assumption rather than instructions.
General Hamilton Hlela was a crucial part of Public Protector Thuli Madonsela's damning reports into the lease deals that eventually led to President Jacob Zuma suspending Cele in October last year and the establishment of the board of inquiry.
Yesterday, however, Hlela fumbled while testifying before inquiry chairman Judge Jake Moloi, conceding that he did not reveal all crucial details to Madonsela during her lengthy probe.
Under examination by Cele's defence lawyer, advocate Vincent Maleka SC, Hlela exposed himself during the inquiry convened at the Tshwane Council Chambers in Pretoria.
Until yesterday, Hlela was an unlikely hero in exposing wasteful expenditure of state funds.
In what could be the first victory for Cele, Hlela - who headed the police's supply chain division - revealed how he made certain procurement decisions regarding the lease deals involving the Middestad building in Pretoria and the Transnet building in Durban, on the assumption that Cele wanted those specific buildings.
Hlela had told Madonsela that Cele identified the Middestad building, introduced him to property mogul Roux Shabangu and instructed him to fast-track the procurement of the buildings.
However, not once, according to Hlela's testimony yesterday, did Cele specifically mention the Middestad building as the preferred building to house the police top brass, nor did he instruct him to pursue a negotiated form of procurement which led to the buildings being leased at inflated rates.
Cele only told Hlela of a building in central Pretoria where two floors could be leased. He, however, claimed that he had not mislead Madonsela, but that he merely did not tell her about certain explicit facts.
Hlela resigned from the police in 2010 after allegedly being forced to do so by Cele.
Yesterday, he shed some light into what possibly led to the controversial deals being signed off with Shabangu.
'Cele gave no instructions on lease'
Could be the first victory for Bheki Cele
THE first day of the Bheki Cele inquiry laid bare major holes in the state's star witness' testimony yesterday, revealing how the controversial R1.67-billion police headquarters deal was fast-tracked on assumption rather than instructions.
General Hamilton Hlela was a crucial part of Public Protector Thuli Madonsela's damning reports into the lease deals that eventually led to President Jacob Zuma suspending Cele in October last year and the establishment of the board of inquiry.
Yesterday, however, Hlela fumbled while testifying before inquiry chairman Judge Jake Moloi, conceding that he did not reveal all crucial details to Madonsela during her lengthy probe.
Under examination by Cele's defence lawyer, advocate Vincent Maleka SC, Hlela exposed himself during the inquiry convened at the Tshwane Council Chambers in Pretoria.
Until yesterday, Hlela was an unlikely hero in exposing wasteful expenditure of state funds.
In what could be the first victory for Cele, Hlela - who headed the police's supply chain division - revealed how he made certain procurement decisions regarding the lease deals involving the Middestad building in Pretoria and the Transnet building in Durban, on the assumption that Cele wanted those specific buildings.
Hlela had told Madonsela that Cele identified the Middestad building, introduced him to property mogul Roux Shabangu and instructed him to fast-track the procurement of the buildings.
However, not once, according to Hlela's testimony yesterday, did Cele specifically mention the Middestad building as the preferred building to house the police top brass, nor did he instruct him to pursue a negotiated form of procurement which led to the buildings being leased at inflated rates.
Cele only told Hlela of a building in central Pretoria where two floors could be leased. He, however, claimed that he had not mislead Madonsela, but that he merely did not tell her about certain explicit facts.
Hlela resigned from the police in 2010 after allegedly being forced to do so by Cele.
Yesterday, he shed some light into what possibly led to the controversial deals being signed off with Shabangu.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos