WALK THE WALK, CELE
On the day predecessor Fikile Mbalula quit parliament, new Minister of Police Bheki Cele yesterday again declared war on criminals. But an expert says Cele must put his money where his mouth is.
Cele has an extremely strong personality and a presence around him
Cele beats same old drum at parade.
Police Minister Bheki Cele went back on the warpath while simultaneously brandishing an olive branch when he was welcomed back into the arms of the South African Police Service (Saps) yesterday during a special parade in his honour.
“Whoever declares war on us, on innocent communities, women and children, the elderly – uzoyithola impi [they will get war]. You want war, you will get war. You want peace, you will get peace,” Cele promised.
“We are not going to share any space with criminals. The space is too small. It cannot be shared. This space belongs to the safe community of South Africa. This space belongs to the women and children of South Africa that cannot be terrorised or assaulted,” he said.
There was more in similar vein from Cele’s speech, which was high in rhetoric but low on plans.
Which is just where the major problem comes in, said senior research consultant with the Institute for Security Studies, Dr Johan Burger.
“The rhetoric gets in the way of effective policing in that it draws away from what really should be done, or what really matters,” Burger said.
“For example, statements about police using their guns and so on, the law already provides for
that. It’s not necessary to say these things although he’s more responsible now in how he conveys his message. He does now qualify his statements of ‘don’t die with your gun in your hand’ and so on with ‘always act within the law’, so that’s some improvement.”
However, it’s a case of one step forward and two steps back with Cele.
“When he said criminals are not human and should not have human rights, that was disturbing,” said Burger.
“That is a very dangerous thing to say because our constitution allocates rights to everybody, including criminals. I don’t think it’s the right kind of thing for our
minister to say because those involved in the protection of human rights will now pick on those issues and it then casts a cloud over everything he may be doing.”
Burger said it was then deputy minister Susan Shabangu who originally called for “police to shoot to kill” and it had subsequently been attributed to Cele.
“You must kill the bastards if they threaten you or the community. You must not worry about the regulations. That is my re- sponsibility. Your responsibility is to serve and protect,” Shabangu said in April 2008. There was another area for potential conflict, this time in house as Cele learns the ropes of being a political head while keeping his hands off operational matters. “Cele has an extremely strong personality and a presence about him that attracts those who he works with. This is why I think he is so popular among police officers, but of course his role is different now. That might be good but has the potential to go bad,” Burger said.
The danger was he could overshadow national police commissioner General Khehla Sitole.
“I hope this is not going to happen because Sitole doesn’t look like he has the same kind of dynamic physical presence as Cele.
“But he is an experienced officer and I think he enjoys some respect in the police,” Burger said.
“The two of them will have to find a good working relationship. Fikile Mbalula almost overruled the national commissioner. He took charge in a way that is not acceptable for the political head of the police.”