Cele racks up R1.5m flight bill

National police commissioner Bheki Cele has spent at least R1.498-million on flights aboard the SA Police Service jet since August 2009, says Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa.

In written reply to a parliamentary question by the Democratic Alliance's Dianne Kohler-Barnard, he said on Tuesday that Cele had used the jet 47 times by May 30 this year.

While most flights were domestic, to all corners of the country, he also flew to Malawi, Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe in the jet, Mthethwa said.

In a statement later, Kohler-Barnard lambasted the embattled police chief and again called for his dismissal.

Mthethwa had not disclosed the purpose of these trips, nor did he indicate why Cele could not travel using a commercial airline in each instance.

Recently, Cele's conduct regarding the "dodgy" SAPS lease deals had been found by public protector Thuli Madonsela to be unlawful, improper and constituting maladministration, she said.

"This latest revelation underscores the disregard that Commissioner Cele has repeatedly displayed for accountability, professional conduct, and prudent use of state funds.

"It is unclear what more evidence President Jacob Zuma needs before Commissioner Cele is dismissed."

In less that one month, Cele racked up a bill of R150 000 on three separate trips from OR Tambo International, Johannesburg, to Cape Town.

Three such business class trips on SAA would have equalled less than a tenth of that cost.

In terms of the Public Finance Management Act, the accounting officer of an institution should exercise all reasonable care to detect unauthorised, irregular, fruitless, and wasteful expenditure, and should for this purpose implement effective, efficient, and transparent processes of financial and risk management.

Cele was the SAPS's accounting officer, and his about R1.5-million SAPS jet bill constituted reckless expenditure, Kohler-Barnard said.