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JOBLESS: Former national police commissioner Bheki Cele. Photo: Trevor Samson

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Presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj could only say: "The president has not yet made any communication, when he makes the decision, it will be communicated."

But those close to Cele and senior police officers confirmed that the Presidency has informed Cele about the decision.

The two names that have emerged - in the big debate whether or not Zuma will make a political appointment - to replace Cele are current Labour Department Director-General Nathi Nhleko and Acting Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

Cele's removal comes two weeks after a board of inquiry, headed by Judge Jake Moloi, had handed its findings to Zuma recommending that Cele be fired.

It also recommended that Zuma should consider taking its findings to the police for further investigations, which may lead to Cele being charged.

Cele has dismissed the report and urged Zuma to disregard the findings into his fitness to hold office, arguing that the evidence of three witnesses - Thulani Ngwenya, Lieutenant-General Audrey Mofomme and Paul Schutte - was ignored.

He argues that the board made factual errors and incorrect conclusions.

He also argued that the board's recommended sanction - that he was unfit to hold office and that he be fired - was inappropriate because the board had not dealt with statutory functions and duties of the national commissioner.

The inquiry was instituted by Zuma last year after Cele signed two lease agreements, worth R1.7-billion, for buildings in Pretoria and Durban - owned by property mogul Roux Shabangu.

"The evidence established that the national commissioner, as the accounting officer of the SAPS, grossly misconducted himself with regard to the procurement of the Sanlam Middestad and the Transnet buildings in Pretoria and Durban respectively," the report states.

"The evidence demonstrated that the national commissioner favoured the buildings owned by Shabangu and that he, together with Shabangu, pushed for the entire buildings in Pretoria and Durban to be leased by the SAPS." - Additional reporting by Mduduzi Dlamini

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Wed Jun 19 20:31:11 SAST 2013 ::

Jun 7, 2012

papamasentlelebonolo

Good Riddance, now Mdluli must follow as well.

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Jun 7, 2012

ntshware-ke-yawa

Eish,Cele and Mdluli,......you wonder why is it that these two will always want to appeal court rule,do they really believe they are indespensable.
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Jun 7, 2012

hulas

No one is clean in anc government, under anc this country is a joke. Credit should be given to our independent judiciary that runs sa from the chambers .Even the man (Nhlanhla) running the show now, there is already a cloud hanging over his head.
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Jun 7, 2012

tpaz

But he did not benefit anything......this is unfair.

Highlights:
Shoot to K.ill
Stomach in, chest out

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Jun 7, 2012

molefelives

Amazulu?
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Jun 7, 2012

DjEp

Lets face, Cele was corrupt but at least got rid of some crimical activities in our respective areas. While Cele was on top, we saw a decrease in ATM bombing, Cash Heist and Organised crimes. we only had petty crimes like snatchin a bag at the mall once in a while. Since he was suspended and now fired we have heard many robberies of cash vans, the Spar where i stay the ATM's were bombed twice this year. Cele was bad mut also managed something, can you say the same to other politicians??
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Jun 7, 2012

Pointman

Viva the free press - our right to know must remain inalienable. I had high hopes for Cele because he did make a dent in crime and am sad to see him go - Zuma still to announce. However a greedy business man corrupted him. I think corporate SA is more guilty than the ANC ministers.
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Jun 7, 2012

BraF

I think the man was doing well with criminals, maybe if he was only stripped administrative powers and continue with his police commissioner Job
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Jun 7, 2012

ayobaness

ooh mr cele wont last this year
hell follow his buddy shiceka
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Jun 7, 2012

Manalep

I guess the dude never got the post initially by merits by for some nepotism`s sake, he failed to lie up to expectations not act within his required level of expertise.
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