Cyber defence for Bheki Cele

Hours before he was suspended, national police commissioner Bheki Cele's spokesman sent out an e-mail in which she claimed that her boss was a victim of a media smear campaign and that the accusations against him were baseless.

The e-mail, which was sent to everyone on the SAPS mailing list by Cele's spokesman, Major-General Nonkululeko Mbatha, was titled "The facts on the Lease Deal: Putting Matters into Perspective".

Mbatha accused "some media houses" of having a "clear vendetta against General Cele and his administration".

She said some "leasing saga" reports were "downright lies" and claimed that suggestions that Cele was about to be fired were "baseless".

"When the story was published it fingered the national commissioner General Bheki Cele on [sic] something he did not do, misleading reports and malicious allegations suggested that General Cele signed a lease because of his improper or proper relationship with businessman Roux Shabangu," the e-mail said.

Mbatha said people with ulterior motives were "secretly pushing propaganda for criminals or speaking on their behalf ... but the fact remains, in the mist [sic] of all SAPS members must not be derailed or demoralised towards their fundamental mandate of serving and protecting fellow South Africans."

Mbatha admitted in the e-mail that requests were made to the D epartment of Public Works for office space for police officials in Pretoria and Durban.

Public Protector Thuli Madonsela was asked to investigate the leasing deals and released two reports. She found that both the leases were unlawful and that Cele's conduct amounted to maladministration.

Despite this, Mbatha wrote: "Contrary to media reports, the Public Protector did not find General Cele guilty of any offense [sic] nor did she find him guilty of corruption."

Hours after the e-mail was sent out, Cele was suspended on full pay and benefits. Shortly after that announcement, Mbatha said that Cele "respects" President Jacob Zuma's decision to suspend him.

Zuma appointed retired Constitutional Court justice Yvonne Mokgoro to chair a board of inquiry into allegations of misconduct by Cele.

Major-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi has been appointed acting national commissioner of police.