Cele breached MP's ethics conduct when yelling ‘shut up’ at crime activist

The committee was investigating a case relating to a July 2022 incident where Cele shouted "shut up" at Action Society’s Ian Cameron during a SAPS imbizo.

Cameron, who is an anti-crime activist, interrupted Cele during the imbizo held in Gugulethu, accusing him of failing to protect Nyanga and Gugulethu citizens.

Cele responded with a threatening tone, telling the Action Society leader to “shut up” 

“I did not join human rights battles yesterday,” an angry Cele said.

“That is why I was sent to prison, that’s why I was sent to Robben Island, that’s why I lived in the cold water, that’s why I ate bad food because I was fighting for human rights. Don’t teach me about human rights; don’t tell me about the safety of my people. I fought for it, I nearly died for it, I was arrested for it.

“Don’t provoke me; don’t talk about things that you have studied and you have heard about. I have lived the life, and I am not going to take any nonsense of someone who regards me as a garden boy,” said Cele.

Cameron was subsequently removed from the venue.

A video footage captured on the day went viral on social media, and it was also played to the committee. 

Cameron told the committee that he did nothing to warrant being assaulted and forcibly removed and restrained.

The committee’s co-chairperson, Bekizwe Nkosi, said the committee found that even if Cele was unhappy with the manner in which Cameron addressed the issue at the imbizo, he was required to act in a manner that would maintain public confidence and trust in the integrity of Parliament.

The committee recommended that Cele apologise to Cameron in front of members of the National Assembly.

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