Bheki Cele unfazed by state capture allegations

The police minister maintains allegations levelled against him are only assumptions at this stage and a response would be tabled after testimony if necessary. Police Minister Bheki Cele has criticised allegations levelled against him at the commission of inquiry into state capture where he was accused to have awarded tenders to Durban businessman Timothy Marimuthu.

Ex-crime intelligence member Colonel Dhanajaya Naidoo told the commission of previous conversations with colleagues during his testimony on Monday. “Over a period of time”, he heard rumours that when Cele was the MEC for transport in KwaZulu-Natal, he was allegedly involved in Marimuthu receiving beneficial tenders.

Naidoo said Marimuthu was a former cop who was convicted of dealing drugs but never served any jail time.

Cele responded that the allegations lacked substance as they were only assumptions at this stage. His communication team responded to TimesLive to argue that Cele would wait until after Colonel Naidoo had completed his testimony to provide a response if necessary.

Naidoo said that the chief financial officer of the secret services account was Major General Solomon Lazarus, who at some stage had resisted from being transferred from the position.

In early 2009 or 2010, he attended a meeting at Marimuthu’s house in Umhlanga Rocks, Durban, which was attended by Cele, Lazarus, and Marimuthu.
The commission heard that Lazarus was waiting for Cele and that closer to the time when Cele would arrive, Lazarus said to Naidoo that it was not easy to organise a meeting with the former MEC. Naidoo’s testimony continues.

In other news – Zondo reserves decision in Moyane’s application to cross-examine Gordhan

The commissioner chair says he will consider the arguments by both parties and revert to them. The chairperson of the commission of inquiry into state capture, Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, has reserved his decision on sacked SA Revenue Service (Sars) commissioner Tom Moyane’s application to cross-examine Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan.

 

“I’m going to reflect on the arguments presented and revert to the parties,” Zondo said ahead of the tea break adjournment on Wednesday. Zondo had previously dismissed Moyane’s application to cross-examine Gordhan and subsequently requested both sides to submit clarificatory affidavits. Read more

Source: The Citizen

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