KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has returned to give evidence before the Ad Hoc Committee.
Image: Ayanda Ndamane / Independent Newspapers
KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi on Wednesday explained why he retracted serious allegations he made against former police minister Bheki Cele.
Mkhwanazi previously testified before the Ad Hoc Committee that Cele allegedly sent attempted murder-accused tenderpreneur Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala a bank account, and money was deposited into that account.
He had indicated at the time that they were going to look into the flow of the deposited funds.
However, when Cele appeared before the committee four months ago, Mkhwanazi sent evidence leader, Advocate Norman Arendse, a message withdrawing the allegation.
He had stated that the team working on the data analysis got the bank account wrong, and the reference regarding Cele was incorrect.
This had prompted the Ad Hoc Committee to demand an affidavit because it had felt that the allegation could not be withdrawn merely by sending a message.
On his return to give evidence before the committee on Wednesday, Mkhwanazi said he had shared with the committee information from the data analysis performed by colleagues on Matlala’s two cellphones.
He explained that the data analysts had found a contact saved as “Bab Ndosi”, which is a clan name of Cele, and the number differed from the former minister’s number by one digit.
“At a glance, the two numbers are almost similar, with a difference of one digit right in the middle. In analysing and tracing the communication, the system drew a different number because of the confusion.”
He also said the data analyst had submitted affidavits to the Ad Hoc Committee and the IPID, which is investigating a perjury charge opened by National Coloured Congress leader and MP Fadiel Adams, explaining how the error between the numbers occurred.
Mkhwanazi said they believed Matlala made the same mistake when he sent messages to the phone number owner from Mpumalanga.
“The owner of the phone number has given a statement where he explains that he received a few WhatsApp messages with bank record statements he did not understand. He responded to get a conversation about who sent the messages,” he said, adding that there was a subsequent exchange of a bank account, and money was deposited.
He also said the unemployed man was appreciative and gave some money to his girlfriend only to want more.
“It is then that Vusi realised he talks to a wrong person and asked, ‘Who are you?’ After the person explained, Matlala immediately deleted all the messages he had sent,” said Mkhwanazi.
He said the owner of the phone number, whom Matlala addressed as “Bab Ndosi”, was not related to Cele and went by a different surname.
Mkhwanazi said it was not their intention to mislead the committee.
“It was an error made by the analysis team during the data extraction process.
“There was no ill intention, and that is why we withdrew upfront,” said Mkhwanazi.
Mkhwanazi added that due to the interaction between Cele and Matlala, the investigative team became suspicious of why the former minister was associated with the businessman.
He revealed that a colleague had indicated that Cele had been adamant about discussing the contract Matlala had with SAPS after their engagement in Durban, when Medicare24 was not receiving purchase orders.
“We realised there was an effort to make sure that Matlala is assisted to some degree,” he said, adding that Cele had stayed at Matlala’s accommodation.
“Those are some of the things that made the team feel there is something questionable in their relationship.”
At the start of his testimony earlier, Mkhwanazi expressed his view on how the members of the committee handled evidence presented to them.
“I am not a parliamentarian, so it might be wrong for me to judge proceedings. Indeed, chairperson, I have been observing, being worried at times by the posture and the attitude that I see from some of the Members of Parliament, who seem to prejudge things.
“My understanding is that the committee’s job is to listen to evidence, probe, and not make conclusions that certain things are wrong or certain individuals. It is that which was a concern to me.”
However, Mkhwanazi said he was encouraged by the committee for working long hours.
“I must take my hat off for the committee’s members because ... I have never seen Parliament work this hard,” he said.
mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za