Suspended police commissioner General Bheki Cele has written to President Jacob Zuma asking to be reinstated, according to a report on Monday.
The eNews channel reported that Cele had asked Zuma to disregard a board of inquiry's recommendation that he be removed.
Cele reportedly argued that the board relied too heavily on the evidence given against him and disregarded those who testified for him.
Cele also reportedly submitted that there was no evidence that his relationship with property tycoon Roux Shabangu was questionable.
“I am not in a position to comment on any communication Cele made or did not make with the president,” said Cele's spokesman Vuyo Mkhize.
The board investigated allegations of misconduct relating to two leases for new police headquarters in Pretoria and Durban.
It recommended that Cele be fired and that a criminal investigation be started into the irregular awarding of the leases, which were worth R1.7 billion.
On Friday, May 25, 2012, Cele said he intended bringing a high court challenge against the report.
“It is not even about the validity. There is no question whatsoever in Bheki Cele's mind... the report is invalid,” Mkhize said at the time.
“He is just going to court to satisfy his view that the report is invalid.”
Mkhize said the invalidity of the report was apparent to rational and objective readers.
He declined to say when the court application would be made, or if it had already been made.
“For every one voice that calls for him to be fired, there are 100 calls for him to be reinstated,” he said
Mkhize said calls for Cele's dismissal were “nonsensical” and should “not be given any regard whatsoever”. - Sapa