Jacob Zuma, Nathi Mthethwa and Bheki Cele.
KwaZulu-Natal MEC Bheki Cele, known for his flashy suits and, well, interesting hats, is the country's new national police commissioner.
But who exactly is our new top cop, a man who has even been described as a township tsotsi? Well, with Cele renowned in media circles for speaking his mind, what better way to describe the former Robben Island inmate than to examine a selection of his more captivating quotes...
Whether reminding Archbishop Desmond Tutu that he is not a "vice Jesus Christ" or branding SA Roadlink busses "killing machines" and "coffins on wheels" (fair enough there, really), Cele seems to have a strong opinion on pretty much everything. Check out our pick of his best below…
"All of a sudden there is a hullabaloo about blue lights. I suggest it is because some people are aware that in the blue light car today, there is a darkie inside there." Cele somehow brings race in the equation after complaints about reckless VIP cops.
"They are just troublesome and everything about them stinks. Their owners' attitudes stink, their buses stink and their compliance [with labour laws] stink." This time the former teacher takes aim at the notorious SA Roadlink.
"Deadly force... Dead means you will die, that's what it means. So I never used any extra word than what it is in the law." Cele explains the concept of death in response to a question about a possible 'shoot-to-kill' approach to his new position.
"I am just concerned that criminals are using xenophobia as an excuse to commit crimes... Why else would they steal the foreigners' belongings? If you want someone to leave, you just tell them and then watch them leave... Why does one have to chase them and steal their goods?" Cele seemed to be asking all the wrong questions during the xenophobic attacks.
"He is a self-made, arrogant, non-accountable individual who purports to be a good citizen and I will dare to argue that he is also a racist." Yip, our man Bheki whips out the race card again and lambastes an anonymous motorist who used his cellphone to film Cele's speeding convoy.
"The driver of that bus was not in any state to drive because he had been turned into a complete zombie as he had driven from Johannesburg to Cape Town and while in Cape Town, he was told to drive to Durban." Cele takes SA Roadlink to task after yet another fatal accident.
"Well, cowboys never cry... We need to be tough. You can't be soft and you can't be moving around kissing crime. You need to be tough because you're dealing with tough guys." Cele seems to lap up the media attention at his unveiling as the new national police commissioner.
So, has President Jacob Zuma erred by selecting a politician rather than a policeman for this crucial job? Only time will tell.
Source - iafrica.com
