Mkhwanazi Dishes Out More Dirt On Former Police Minister Bheki Cele

Mkhwanazi Accuses Former Minister Bheki Cele of Attempting to Obstruct Justice

KZN Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi Alleges Bheki Cele Tried to Shield General Feroz Khan

PRETORIA – In a shocking testimony before the Madlanga Commission, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has accused former Police Minister Bheki Cele of attempting to obstruct a criminal investigation. Mkhwanazi revealed that Cele allegedly wanted crime intelligence chief Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo to resign from the South African Police Service (SAPS) in order to protect another high-ranking official, General Feroz Khan, from being investigated.

This stunning account was provided on day three of the commission, which continues to hear testimony on allegations of political interference, corruption, and manipulation within SAPS leadership structures. According to Mkhwanazi, Khumalo was working on a sensitive case involving General Khan, who he said had links to individuals with alleged ties to criminal activities.

A "Strange Call" and Immediate Red Flags

Mkhwanazi told the commission that the alleged attempt at obstruction began with a "strange call" he received from Cele. The former minister, according to Mkhwanazi, asked him to "recruit" Khumalo for a five-year role in Gauteng, which would have seen him resign from the police force.

“I received a strange call,” Mkhwanazi told the Madlanga commission. “General Cele was asking me to approach Khumalo to resign from SAPS and go work with him in Gauteng for five years. Then, he said, Khumalo could return to SAPS. It made no sense.”

Mkhwanazi said what immediately struck him as suspicious was Cele’s sudden change of stance on Khumalo, whom he had previously disliked.

“When Cele was still in SAPS, he didn’t like Khumalo at all. He made everyone at the head office believe Khumalo was a bad person. So why now, suddenly, this trust?” he asked.

Alarmed by the contradiction, Mkhwanazi consulted an equally baffled colleague. He then decided to call General Khumalo directly to confirm the strange story.

The Truth Revealed: A Case of Obstruction

The commissioner's direct phone call to Khumalo provided the shocking confirmation he had suspected. According to Mkhwanazi, Khumalo simply laughed at the proposition.

“Khumalo just laughed and said, ‘Don’t worry, the general is not serious.’ When I asked him to explain, he said Cele wanted him to back off the case against General Khan. That’s when I realised this was an attempt to obstruct an internal investigation,” Mkhwanazi testified.

According to Mkhwanazi’s testimony, Khumalo had been tasked with probing General Khan in connection with links to controversial figures such as Brown Mogotsi and Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala—individuals who have also been linked to alleged criminal activities.

The revelation left Mkhwanazi deeply disappointed. “It upset me deeply,” he said. “Could Cele really go as far as to ask someone to resign from SAPS just to protect another general? I was so disappointed, I never spoke to him again after that.”