Bheki Cele
Bheki Cele is a South African politician and a member of the African National Congress, who served as the Minister of Police. He has been involved in discussions about firearm regulations and public safety, and was previously noted for receiving proposals related to the use of rubber bullets for crowd control.
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Recent news mentions
Former police minister Bheki Cele was implicated in the 2017 murder of ANC councillor Sindiso Magaqa according to Witness E.
KZN Hawks boss referred for investigation – The Mail & Guardian
South Africa· 2026-01-29
Former Police Minister Bheki Cele had demanded 'a facilitation fee' of 1m rand from Matlala.
An alleged drug cartel and a murdered witness
United Kingdom· 2025-12-24
Matlala approached former police minister Bheki Cele for assistance.
Matlala paid Bheki Cele R500 000 for police protection – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-11-28
Former police minister Bheki Cele assisted Matlala in retrieving his firearms after a police raid.
Matlala denies connection to deputy police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-11-26
Bheki Cele is a police minister who was allegedly involved in extorting money from Vusimuzi Matlala.
Matlala says he was caught between Cele and Mchunu – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-11-26Mogotsi accused former police minister Bheki Cele of being the senior official in collusion with criminal syndicates.
Brown Mogotsi a ‘professional liar’ – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-11-21
Bheki Cele is accused by Mogotsi of receiving a bribe in connection with a police tender.
Police informant Brown Mogotsi says Mkhwanazi is a CIA spy – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-11-18
Bheki Cele is the former police minister who was informed about the theft charges instigated by Sibiya.
Stark contrasts between Sibiya and Dumisani Khumalo testimonies on police corruption – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-11-10
Co-Deputy Police Minister Cassel Mathale and former police minister Bheki Cele told the committee about the same lack of consultation.
Mchunu was correct to disband unit but failed to consult, says acting police minister Cachalia – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-11-05
Bheki Cele is a former police minister who argued that Mchunu lacked the authority to dissolve the KZN task team without proper consultation.
Mchunu and Masemola did not get along, says Deputy Police Minister Boshielo – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-11-04Former police minister Bheki Cele also criticised Phiyega’s leadership.
Phiyega denies meeting alleged cartel boss Matlala as recordings expose Mchunu, Sibiya links – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-10-31
Mathale worked 'extremely well' with former police minister Bheki Cele, who told the ad hoc committee that his successor Mchunu did not consult before disbanding the task team.
Mchunu’s letter was ‘unusual’ and ‘problematic’, says police deputy minister Cassel Mathale – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-10-28
Bheki Cele is the former police minister who criticized Mchunu's directive to disband the KZN task team.
‘15 missing cartridge cases removed from ballistic report in Matlala and Molefe murder case’, says forensic expert – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-10-27
Bheki Cele has criticised former national police commissioner Riah Phiyega over her handling of the Marikana mine killings.
I would have avoided the Marikana massacre – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-10-24
Former police minister Bheki Cele said his successor, Senzo Mchunu, had no power to disband a task team investigating political killings without consulting the national commissioner or the presidency.
Cele throws Mchunu under the bus – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-10-23
Former police minister Bheki Cele has blasted his successor Senzo Mchunu for disbanding the KwaZulu-Natal task team investigating political killings without proper consultation.
‘Mchunu should have consulted’ before disbanding task team, says former police minister Bheki Cele – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-10-23
Bheki Cele, a controversial former police minister, cast doubt on the circumstances of Nathi Mthethwa's death.
Paris, death destination of ambassadors past and present – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-10-17
Mchunu had received a full briefing from his predecessor Bheki Cele and senior South African Police Service officials.
Mchunu says political killings task team was not a permanent unit, as infighting rocks police service – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-10-16Bheki Cele was mentioned in the context of political interference during his tenure as police minister.
Crime intelligence never cleansed since 2011 Richard Mdluli slush fund scandal – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-09-19
Former police minister Bheki Cele confirmed that more than 5.4 million cases were closed in 2018-19 and 2023 because of 'insufficient evidence'.
South Africans, stop complaining in whispers and unite to fight corruption – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-09-04
Bheki Cele appointed Gen Mkhwanazi to the provincial police chief post in 2018.
Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi: The top cop who stood up to politiciansUnited Kingdom· 2025-07-19
Mbalula announced that Mchunu and his predecessor, Bheki Cele, have been summoned to the ANC’s integrity commission.
Murmers of a cabinet reshuffle – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-07-10
Bheki Cele was a notorious example of a deputy minister who racked up travel claims without attending outreach sessions.
Too many chiefs, not enough service – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-05-29
Bheki Cele was the police minister to whom the Institute for Security Studies sent a proposal regarding rubber bullets.
Crossfire over new gun regulations – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-04-11
