Bhekokwakhe "Bheki" Hamilton Cele (born 22 April 1952)[2][3] was the South African Minister of Police from February 2018 to 17 June 2024.

[4] He was National Commissioner of the South African Police Service for two years, until misconduct allegations led to his suspension in October 2011 and removal in June 2012.

[8][9] He holds a teacher's diploma, and in 1980 became a founding member of the progressive, non-racial National Education Union of South Africa.

[26][27] In July 2007, the Sowetan reported that Cele, then MEC for safety in KwaZulu-Natal, had told a meeting in Durban that police should "shoot to kill" when confronting criminals, as well as making other remarks endorsing the use of deadly force.

[42] In early 2011, when Cele was National Commissioner of SAPS, the Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela, found that the government had leased office buildings in Pretoria and Durban – intended to serve as police headquarters – at vastly inflated rates.

Madonsela said that the deals were "unlawful" and "illegitimate," and she held Cele – along with the Minister of Public Works, Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde – responsible.

[5] In October 2011, the then President Jacob Zuma suspended Cele with pay, pending the outcome of an inquiry, chaired by former judge Jake Moloi,[45][46] into his possible misconduct.

[53][54][55] Nearly seven years later, however, in April 2019, the Pretoria High Court set aside the inquiry's report, following a protracted legal struggle by Cele to clear his name.

[45][56][57][58] In 2018 the Public Protector, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, claimed that Cele and SAPS had failed to provide personal protection to two whistleblowers who had reported corruption in the Umzimkulu municipality in KwaZulu-Natal.

The court said that, as set out in legislation, it is not the responsibility of the police to ensure that witnesses and whistleblowers receive personal protection.

[65][69] In an event in Gugulethu, Police Minister Bheki Cele had a confrontation with Ian Cameron, director of community safety for Action Society, a non-profit organisation focusing on violent crime.

[71] This incident highlighted tensions and differing perspectives on community safety, police efficacy, and responsibility in addressing crime.