ON THE Durban social scene the national police commissioner has been described as a township dandy with a penchant for Panama hats and mafia-style white suits.

While still based in KwaZulu-Natal as part of the provincial government, the man commonly known as "Ndosi" was also shown as someone who enjoys the company of nubile lasses and a good party to boot.

When he was appointed national commissioner in July 2009 Cele came out as a tough-talking, no-nonsense police chief who intends taking the war to the criminals.

"You cannot be soft. You cannot go about kissing criminals. You have to be tough because you are dealing with tough guys," Cele told the media when he was asked about his gung-ho approach.

To some South Africans, sick and tired of living in a society where criminals seemingly rule the roost, Cele's approach was the much-needed tonic.

Disgusted by the violence meted out by criminals to the innocent and helpless, they saw Cele as a knight in shining armour prepared to fight fire with fire.

But what South Africa has come to know about the man who took over from former national commissioner Jackie "finish and klaar" Selebi has shown some chinks in his armour.

Beneath the veneer of the fun-loving Ndosi and the chief of police committed to fighting the country's rampant crime there is an element of brashness.

It is the kind of brashness that those working close to him have secretly revealed. They describe Cele as someone who does not listen.

According to them Ndosi, as a leader, listens to no one.

This has led to a situation in which no one really bothers to raise issues with him.

A SAPS official confirmed this to me a week ago.

After President Jacob Zuma's State of the Nation Address we were having some drinks at Cape Town's popular Cubana pub when Cele rocked up at the venue with his entourage.

His arrival caused a stir, with some of the tenderpreneurs present falling over themselves to greet the man.

What caught my eye was that the general was visiting a drinking hole in full regalia though he was obviously not on duty but there to enjoy the Mother City's nightspot hospitality.

He eventually must have noticed the contravention because he asked one of his attendants to remove the uniform's epaulettes.

Frankly, Ndosi had no business coming to the Cubana in full uniform. He arrived at the venue hours after Zuma had delivered his address. This means he had had enough time to go to his hotel and change into civilian clothes.

Later I asked the SAPS official whether Cele was within his rights to come in full regalia to such public drinking places. He confirmed that it was against SAPS regulations.

"But he listens to no one so it really does not help to raise such matters," the official said.

Last year Ndosi was involved in a saga in which he lost R20000 on a SAA plane from Durban.

Questions were raised as to why, as a police commissioner committed to fighting crime, he did not report the matter to the police. Cele unconvincingly explained that he had reported the incident to the police at OR Tambo but had not had time to open a case docket. So the incident was not investigated.

His response, when asked in Parliament by DA MP Dianne Kohler-Barnard why he carried so much money, really took the cake.

"How much do I earn? I can afford to have that amount of money with me on the salary I earn," Cele bragged.

This is the brashness one is talking about. It is this brashness that has led Cele to behave in the "improper and unlawful" manner described by public protector Thuli Madonsela in her investigation of the R500million police headquarters deal.

It's the kind of brashness that has seen Ndosi ride roughshod over everyone and every regulation, as well as expectations about the behaviour of someone holding his kind of office.

Not only is he brash, it is also a sign of ultimate crassness for someone in his position to go around carrying R20000 in a bag. Simply put, Cele has no modicum of decorum.

In township parlance: "Undosi uyayilahla (Ndosi is losing it).