Bheki Cele Minister of police
Score: 1
Cele, SA’S gung-ho police minister, had the unenviable task of leading a department that had to not only keep disobedient South Africans in check but also act in such a way that the populace did not end up fearing the very people who were there to protect them.
The police have been critical players during the lockdown. It was up to them to ensure that no-one was buying alcohol or cigarettes and that at most 50 people could attend a funeral.
That’s not as simple it sounds: bootleggers serviced those desperate for a smoke and a drink — ensuring that the black market thrived — and mourners around the country flouted the rules.
It means Cele has to deal with the roughly 300,000 South Africans arrested for breaking the rules — people who will now have criminal records for actions that are ordinarily legal in SA.
Booysen says the usual sense of arrogance prevailed on the part of the fedora-wearing minister.
“The name Nathaniel Julies [a 16year-old killed by police in Eldorado Park] will reflect ineptitude and disgrace, along with the defence force’s killing of Collins Khosa [who was drinking alcohol in his yard],” says Booysen. “[It’s] sad that in [a] time of need for caring, citizens did not have the ‘luxury’ of knowing security forces would be looking out for them.”
In his evaluation, Sarakinsky points to the police’s inconsistent enforcement of the lockdown. He says they used force against citizens and drove a narrow law-and-order agenda.
For Calland, this was a “disaster area”.
“Instead of leading the police service to enforce regulations through guidance and advice, [Cele] brought out an iron fist — thereby encouraging all the worst instincts of an inadequately trained and resourced police service,” he says.
“The heavy-handed policing that resulted was anti-rights, l acked any sense of empathy or reason, and caused considerable and unnecessary harm.”
For February, who believes “policing should happen with the consent of the citizenry”, Cele’s approach “seems to waver between ham-handed and brute force”.
Fikeni, however, offers a different view. He believes Cele has been one of the most effective and energetic ministers, handling a difficult portfolio very well during lockdown.