Cele denies feud with commissioner: ‘We’re not friends, we work together’

Police Minister Bheki Cele insists there is no bad blood between him and National Police Commissioner General Khehla Sitole.

They, along with other police top brass, appeared before Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police on Thursday afternoon, 29 July 2021.

Appearing virtually, Cele stressed to the committee that while he and Sitole may not have a social relationship, they are able to work together.

“The National Commissioner and I, let me repeat, we are not friends. We don’t drink coffee together. But let me assure you, we work together. Let me assure you that we work together. Even if you want to see our phones, we phone one another almost daily asking questions and raising matters,” Cele said.

The minister however admitted that there were things they did not agree on.

“It is not animosity. We are not fighting, but I can assure you we work together. There are things we may not agree on as accounting officer and executive authority. To say we are chaotic and don’t work together, I would really not agree with that”

Police Minister Bheki Cele

Bheki Cele and Khehla Sitole’s ‘fued’ – How it began

Reports of Bheki Cele and General Khehla Sitole not getting along first surfaced back in May, over the appointments of senior managers within the South African Police Service (SAPS).

Cele had apparently sent a strongly worded letter to Sitole, demanding that he rescind the appointments that were made as part of the restructuring of the senior leadership of the service. In the letter, the minister calls Sitole out for announcing the appointments in Parliament, despite his instructions to not do so.

“You, therefore, blatantly ignored my instructions and the provision of the SAPS Employment regulations 2018, when you went ahead and announced these appointments. Your disregard for for my position as executive authority of the department of police and relevant regulations is regarded as serious and will not be tolerated. Your irresponsible actions further opened the department to possible litigation and disputes,” he said.

Cele reportedly believes the top cop is undermining him while Sitole reckons the minister is interfering with the administration of the SAPS.