President Jacob Zuma will make his decision known on the future of suspended Police Commissioner Bheki Cele when he is “ready”, the presidency said on Wednesday.
Presidential spokesman Mac Maharaj was reacting to an SABC radio news report that Cele was about to be fired.
“We cannot comment on those reports. The president will make his decision known when he is ready,” he said.
Last month, a board of inquiry appointed by Zuma found Cele unfit to hold office and recommended he be fired. He has been suspended since last year.
The inquiry followed a finding in July by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela that Cele’s involvement in deals to acquire police office space was “improper, unlawful and amounted to maladministration”.
Madonsela concluded that while Cele had not signed the final lease, he had initiated negotiations with property tycoon Roux Shabangu, and had seemed determined to secure the leases despite warnings against them.
The Democratic Alliance has said that Zuma must announce whether he has fired Cele.
“President Zuma must tell the police and the public whether he has indeed sacked Cele,” said DA spokeswoman on police, Dianne Kohler Barnard.
“The ongoing uncertainty about the situation in the top brass of the (SA Police Service) undermines police morale, public confidence in the police and the fight against crime,” she said. - Sapa