Budgets and 'kitchen scuffles': Police Minister Bheki Cele has had a 'run-in' with some top officials at the SAPS Tshwane Academy regarding a pork dish. Photo: Gallo Images/Brenton Geach
Police Minister Bheki Cele has been in the spotlight for two reasons this week: The South African Police Service (Saps) budget vote presentation in Parliament on Tuesday, 23 May… preceded by an “almost criminal” request for pork at a Halaal-accredited training facility.
According to Sunday World, Cele had allegedly demanded a meal of grilled pork during a visit to the Saps Tshwane Academy.
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When the minister’s appetite for pork was not satisfied due to the Halaal kitchen, the academy’s training commander Brigadier Paulus Mphenyeke and support services manager Colonel Freddie Bakker, were reportedly unceremoniously removed from their posts.
Mphenyeke and Bakker were redeployed immediately to the national office by National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola for their “recalcitrance” to serve Cele his slice of pork.
Approached for comment on the “pork saga”, National Police Spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said:
“The Saps does not discuss its internal matters, which include the transfer or redeployment of members, in the public domain.”
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Cele tabled a budget of R102 billion for the Saps during the 2023/2024 financial year.
The police minister; who has recently come under fire for law enforcement’s handling of the Thabo Bester prison escape saga, said R357 million will be allocated to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid).
At the same time, R150 million will be set aside for the Department of the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service.
“Departmental spending over the medium term is in relation to the core programmes with visible policing consisting of more than 51% of the total Vote in 2023/24,” Cele told MPs in the National Assembly.
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Cele also revealed that Saps is recruiting retired detectives “in good standing” to Crime Intelligence to increase its capacity to deal with crime.
In high-crime regions, the procurement of drones, body-worn cameras, and Shot Spotters was cited as a priority. Saps was, according to the minister, training more officers to fly drones and recruiting pilot interns.
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