EFF opens criminal case against Cele over alleged interference in PPE corruption probe
By Zintle Mahlati
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Johannesburg – The EFF has opened a criminal case against Police Minister Bheki Cele for defeating the ends of justice and interfering in the investigation of a Crime Intelligence personal protective equipment (PPE) procurement process.
EFF MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi opened the case at the Sunnyside police station in Pretoria on Monday. The EFF describes Cele’s actions as a classic case of political interference.
The red berets plan to pile more pressure on Cele by laying a complaint with the public protector over the same issue.
Makhosandile Zulu Police Minister Bheki Cele. Picture: Tracy Lee Stark
In a statement on Sunday, the EFF said this follows a North Gauteng High Court ruling which cited Cele as having attempted to stop the suspension of the head of police crime intelligence, Lieutenant-General Peter Jacobs over the allegedly fraudulent acquisition of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Ndlozi will open the case at the Sunnyside police station in Tshwane.
Commissar @MbuyiseniNdlozi To Open A Case Against Minister Of Police Bheki Cele pic.twitter.com/yU9G77DAXm
The North Gauteng High Court ruling, which the EFF has welcomed, affirmed the suspension of Jacobs and five others.
Jan Gerber
Suspended police Crime Intelligence Chief, Lieutenant-General Peter Jacobs, has lost a court bid to return to work.
Jacobs, and five officers under his command, face misconduct charges which centre on the use of a secret police slush fund to buy Covid-19 PPE.
The veteran cop claims he is being pushed out for exposing graft in the uppermost echelons of the police.
An urgent court bid by police Crime Intelligence head Peter Jacobs, in which he and five of his subordinates challenged their suspensions over a R1.5 million Covid-19 personal protection equipment (PPE) procurement scandal, was dismissed by the Pretoria High court on Friday.
South Africa: Jacobs Vs Sitole - Crime Intelligence Head Takes Suspension Battle to Court, Reveals Historic Deep Rot in the Key Division allafrica.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from allafrica.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
SAPS Crime Intelligence head, Lieutenant General Peter Jacobs and five fellow officers from the division are seeking an urgent intervention from the Pretoria High Court to declare their suspensions by National Commissioner Khehla Sitole unlawful.
Jacobs was the first to be served with a notice of suspension on 30 November, while fellow officers were notified on 10 December 2020.
“Credible evidence was available that the Account was looted by a number of CFOs and or Divisional Commissioners and other Senior Crime Intelligence Officers,” said Jacobs in his 42-page searing document, setting out what he found in the division when he took the helm in March 2018.