Cele appealed to Zuma to ‘prevent a disaster’
Police Minister Bheki Cele has opened up about his surprising visit to the Nkandla home of former president Jacob Zuma.
Cele is among the several high-profile figures that have visited the KwaZulu-Natal homestead in less than a month.
Leaders of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) had a casual tea date with Zuma at the start of the month, while the Mkonto weSizwe Military Veterans (MKMVA) followed suite a week later.
Zuma is in a standoff with the country’s judiciary after he refused to appear and testify at the State Capture Commission, despite an order by the Constitutional Court.
Cele told media on Friday that he went to Nkandla to listen to Zuma’s concerns.
“So far, I did not visit a person that has been arrested for not appearing in the commission but the other thing, it’s because maybe this is a high-profile, there are many cases where we make the visit. If you can make a contribution to prevent that thing to happen before it happens and becomes a disaster if it does become a disaster.
“It was on that score, to speak to the former president to raise some concerns that were raised, to hear his concern and see where to take those concerns forward, both as a responsible citizen of the country but also as a person who has a responsibility that if things can be prevented it’s always much better than to react after those things have happened,” Cele said.
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The chair of the commission, Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, vowed to approach the court to declare Zuma in contempt of court.
There are growing fears that Zuma’s supporters could clash with law enforcement as a result.
Cele said he has briefed President Cyril Ramaphosa and the African National Congress (ANC) deputy secretary general on the visit.
He added he hopes to put out the flames.
