National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola has rejected claims that former police minister Bheki Cele continues to control the South African Police Service (SAPS) and is “ruling from the grave,” calling them “a lie.”

Masemola made the remarks on Tuesday while appearing before an ad hoc parliamentary committee established to examine allegations against SAPS.

“I don’t know how to describe it. I haven’t talked to Minister Cele,” Masemola said. 

“I talk to all the generals, and there’s no conniving. We talk about work, and that’s where it ends.”

He added that, to his knowledge, most senior officers do not communicate with Cele.

“I don’t know where this notion of ‘ruling from the grave’ comes from, but it is an incorrect statement. It’s a lie,” he said.

The claims emerged during testimony by former deputy national police commissioner Lieutenant General Francinah Vuma, who has alleged victimisation and attempts on her life following protected disclosures she made while in office.

Vuma appeared before the committee last week on Wednesday as part of its investigation into alleged corruption and political interference in the criminal justice system.

Vuma, who was appointed in 2017, was suspended by Masemola in 2022. 

The suspension remained in place until her retirement in January.

During proceedings, evidence leader Bongiwe Mkhize also said controversial North West businessman Brown Mogotsi had claimed that Cele was “still in control of police operations and ruling from the grave”.

Mogotsi also alleged that Masemola has close relationships with Cele, Crime Intelligence head Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo, Major General Patrick Mbotho from Limpopo, and the Western Cape provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General (Advocate) Thembisile Patekile.

Cele served as a Minister of Police from February 2018 until his tenure ended on June 2024.

Responding to the allegations, Masemola denied any improper relationship with Cele.

“I’m not sure what ‘ruling from the grave’ means,” he said.

“If Mr Mogotsi and Vuma can provide dates, times and places where we met Minister Cele on these matters, we can verify that.”

He said the last time he spoke to Cele was regarding a pension-related payment.

“Since then, I have not spoken to him,” he said.

Masemola added that other senior officers, including Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and Khumalo, also rarely communicate with Cele.

“I wouldn’t know how he is ‘ruling from the grave’ because we are managing the police. We receive directives from the current minister, and the job gets done,” he said.

He maintained that Cele is not interfering in SAPS operations.

“Minister Cele is not involved in police matters now,” Masemola said. 

“During his tenure, he was visible and engaged, but now he is no longer part of operational matters.”

Masemola said that if any interference had occurred in Vuma’s environment, it had not been reported to him.

“If I had known about it, I would have addressed it,” he said.

The committee continues.

*This article was first published by IOL News