Cele makes submission to Protector on lease probe

National Police Commissioner Bheki Cele gave the Public Protector his side of the story over a multimillion-rand lease he reportedly agreed to without putting it out to tender, the Public Protector’s office confirmed on Monday.

“We received the report late yesterday [Sunday],” said Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s spokesperson Oupa Segalwe.

“The Public Protector is going to evaluate the comment, including comment from other departments and the complainant,” he explained.

“We are looking at early February for release.”

Earlier, Cele told etv he would not discuss the contents of the submission he made to her over the R500-million lease for the Middestad building in Pretoria.

“It is up to the Public Protector to take the matter forward now,” said Cele, adding he would not discuss anything in the “confidential” report.

Last year the Sunday Times reported Cele had agreed to a R500-million lease agreement for the building in Pretoria with property tycoon Roux Shabangu, allegedly without following tender procedures. The police commissioner denied these claims.

Cele also denied being involved in the negotiations between public works and Shabangu for the leasing of the huge 45 000 squaremetres Transnet building in Durban.

Shabangu admitted in September he was about to become the owner of the Transnet building after negotiating with Transnet for three years.

Public Works Minister Geoff Doidge announced in August that contracts with Shabangu would be put on ice until investigations by the public protector and the SIU had been finalised.

The protector is investigating the matter at the request of complainant Paul Hoffman, who is director of the South African Institute for Accountability.—Sapa