SUSPENDED national police commissioner General Bheki Cele says he does not have a problem with a cartoon depicting him carrying firearms, but has an issue with a manipulated picture of him carrying a firearm.
Cele is suing Sowetan for defamation. He claims a manipulated picture of him carrying a gun on July 7 2007 had injured his person. The picture was used again on July 18 2007.
He also says articles written about him in the newspaper were not balanced.
Cele on Friday attended the proceedings alone with no one in court to support him.
Cele told the Johannesburg High Court he did not recall ordering the police to "shoot to kill" criminals. Instead, he said he did not have a problem with his ordering the police to "aim for the head".
"I do remember ordering the police to use deadly force when under attack," the suspended police commissioner told court..
"I don't have difficulties with criminals pointing a gun at a police officer being shot. I have a problem with a police officer who does not shoot a thug pointing a gun at him.
"I have told my officers to only smile when being photographed by a camera."
Defending Sowetan, Advocate Hamilton Maenetje asked Cele whether if the newspaper had explained to him that his picture had been doctored he would have action against the paper. Cele replied that he would not have taken legal action.
"Apology would have been enough. My wish was not to come to court," Cele said.
He said efforts by his legal team and representative of the newspaper to resolve the matter were fruitless.
Maenetje showed Cele cartoons from other newspapers depicting him carrying assortment of arms and an ammunition, saying tough words against criminals.
When asked if he had a problem with the cartoons, Cele replied that he did not see anything wrong with such illustrations.
"The body (in Sowetan's image) is that of somebody I don't know, but the picture is mine. If it were an exact picture I would not have complained.
"The picture damages my campaign. One major trouble we are facing in this country is cyber crime. It means somebody might take my head and put it on a crime scene," Cele argued.
The case resumes today.
Cele gunning for Sowetan
SUSPENDED national police commissioner General Bheki Cele says he does not have a problem with a cartoon depicting him carrying firearms, but has an issue with a manipulated picture of him carrying a firearm.
Cele is suing Sowetan for defamation. He claims a manipulated picture of him carrying a gun on July 7 2007 had injured his person. The picture was used again on July 18 2007.
He also says articles written about him in the newspaper were not balanced.
Cele on Friday attended the proceedings alone with no one in court to support him.
Cele told the Johannesburg High Court he did not recall ordering the police to "shoot to kill" criminals. Instead, he said he did not have a problem with his ordering the police to "aim for the head".
"I do remember ordering the police to use deadly force when under attack," the suspended police commissioner told court..
"I don't have difficulties with criminals pointing a gun at a police officer being shot. I have a problem with a police officer who does not shoot a thug pointing a gun at him.
"I have told my officers to only smile when being photographed by a camera."
Defending Sowetan, Advocate Hamilton Maenetje asked Cele whether if the newspaper had explained to him that his picture had been doctored he would have action against the paper. Cele replied that he would not have taken legal action.
"Apology would have been enough. My wish was not to come to court," Cele said.
He said efforts by his legal team and representative of the newspaper to resolve the matter were fruitless.
Maenetje showed Cele cartoons from other newspapers depicting him carrying assortment of arms and an ammunition, saying tough words against criminals.
When asked if he had a problem with the cartoons, Cele replied that he did not see anything wrong with such illustrations.
"The body (in Sowetan's image) is that of somebody I don't know, but the picture is mine. If it were an exact picture I would not have complained.
"The picture damages my campaign. One major trouble we are facing in this country is cyber crime. It means somebody might take my head and put it on a crime scene," Cele argued.
The case resumes today.
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