Minister of Police Bheki Cele is trending after he revealed how much his department spent on his flight to Durban for a media briefing after the arrest of AKA murder suspects earlier this year.
Bheki Cele and other officials flew to Durban with a Cessna Sovereign belonging to the South African Police Service.
However, despite taking a two-hour flight to the coastal city of Durban, Democratic Alliance member of parliament Okkie Terblanche asked the minister of police in writing the amount of money used for his trip.
Replying to the parliamentary question, Minister of Police Bheki Cele revealed that they flew at a cost of R176 000. “Variable cost includes fuel, airframe maintenance, labour and parts, engine restoration and miscellaneous cost,” said Bheki Cele.
The media briefing came against the backdrop of the arrests of AKA murder suspects in February. The award-winning rapper was shot at point blank outside Wish restaurant in Durban last year.
No doubt, the briefing was the biggest update on the murder case. Five of the seven arrested are in police custody in South Africa, while the two are yet to be extradited to South Africa after being nabbed in Eswatini.
Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Ronald Lamola once revealed that they had engaged authorities in Eswatini for the extradition of the two suspects.
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE CASE SO FAR
Mziwetbemba Gwabeni assembled and paid all the suspects after the hit. All AKA murder suspects reportedly received over R133 000 each after the hit. Transactional evidence has it that Gwabeni allegedly received R800 000 from infamous Taxi owner Mfundo Gcaba hours before the hit.
However, the court heard that the money was for ‘business purposes.’ Mfundo Gcaba denied any involvement through a press statement. Confirmed reports have it that there is no sufficient evidence to arrest Gcaba despite R800 000 payment.
AKA murder suspects worked in cahoot, and cellphone records link them all. The motive for the hit is unknown.
MAKING HEADLINES
No doubt this is not the first time Bheki Cele has made headlines with his trips. In 2023, he reportedly used over R450 000 to allow him and his assistant to attend the Rugby World Cup final in France in October.
Bheki Cele was one of the high-profile attendees from the South African government. President Cyril Ramaphosa, Minister of Sport Zizi Kodwa, Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Ronald Lamola and ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula were also in attendance.
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