PHALA PHALA: CR, CELE PLAYING FOR TIME

IF POLICE Minister Bheki Cele is being honest that he knows nothing about the break-in and theft of foreign currency at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm in Limpopo, then South Africans are at the mercy of criminals.

The likelihood of Cele not knowing about this crime is slim, and his alleged ignorance on the matter is convenient for a president who is alleged to be trying every trick in the book to save his political career.

It makes sense that Ramaphosa does not hesitate to declare his confidence in Cele, who appears to be clueless about how to address crime, and only arrives at crime scenes for TV cameras after the fact.

For starters, Ramaphosa never wanted South Africans to know that a gang of Namibians broke into his farm, stealing at least $4 million allegedly concealed in furniture, more than two years ago.

Making the public aware of this crime would have triggered a lot of difficult questions, including why he would keep so much cash at his home, and not bank it; where did this money come from; was it declared with the relevant authorities; and what it was intended for?

For Cele to appear to have no knowledge about the details of this incident plays into Ramaphosa’s hands.

The allegations that the president bribed the suspects, who were apparently kidnapped and tortured, are career-ending, and the more Cele says he does not know about it, the better for a president who is fighting to save his skin.

But if indeed Cele does not know about the incident, then, my fellow South Africans, we have a problem … and any caring president who had nothing to hide would have long since fired such a minister.

Perhaps Ramaphosa and Cele know that the writing is on the wall, and riding the wave is the best thing to do now.

Whatever the case, South Africans are not easily fooled, and the truth will eventually triumph.