Police Minister Bheki Cele. Image: Flickr.
Bheki Cele in ‘hot water’ for using SAPS chopper at an ANC event
The DA says Bheki Cele should be billed for the SAPS chopper he used at the ANC manifesto launch. Did he use it in his personal capacity?
Police Minister Bheki Cele. Image: Flickr.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) says it is not true that a chopper was utilised for personal use by the Minister of Police, Bheki Cele.
The clarity comes as the Democratic Alliance accuses Cele of abusing state resources using a SAPS chopper at an ANC event in Durban on Saturday, 24 February.
DA SLAMS BHEKI CELE FOR USING A SAPS CHOPPER AT AN ANC EVENT
The DA said Cele’s helicopter stunt was a gross abuse of state resources, and he should pay for every flight minute that the helicopter was in the air.
The party also called for a full SAPS internal investigation to review the decision-making process that authorised Cele’s use of the helicopter.
“All the SAPS officers – across the chain of command, who signed off on this irregular use of a police asset, should be subjected to a disciplinary process,” DA Shadow Minister of Police Andrew Whitfield said.
IN WHAT CAPACITY DID THE MINISTER USE THE CHOPPER?
Saps National spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the Natjoints, as the operational arm of the JCPS cluster, is responsible for the safety and security of all major events in the country.
Mathe said that at all major events, various law enforcement agencies led by the SAPS pull resources together to ensure all events are incident- and crime-free.
“During major events, the SAPS airwing, together with the overall operational commander, provides air support for members on the ground to advise and guide ground operations,” she explained.
In addition, Mathe said such measures are put in place to avert stampedes and any other life-threatening incidents associated with major events.
“It is, thus, not true that a SAPS chopper was utilised for personal use for the Minister of Police. The Saps chopper, just like any other major event, was deployed to this event to monitor the large crowds.
“The Minister of Police, responsible for the safety and security of all people living in SA, was fulfilling his constitutional responsibility as a minister of police, where he also advised and guided operations. It is not an isolated incident, in which the Minister guides and provides advice on measures that should be put in place to control large crowds during gatherings.”
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