admin“Due to some bureaucratic issues, the said witness could not give a statement earlier. We hope that by 11.30am we will have the statement,” board of inquiry chairman Judge Jake Moloi said in Pretoria.
“There will be no hearing going on until that estimated time,” he said.
Gen Cele’s advocate, Vincent Maleka, told the inquiry that evidence leader Viwe Notshe had failed to produce the statement by 4pm on Monday, as promised.
Once Mr Maleka had a copy, he would have to be allowed to get instructions from his client, he said.
“I don’t know what the witness will say and I don’t know if I will be given that statement by 11.30am,” said Mr Maleka.
Mr Notshe said the statement was being printed. He rejected claims he had not informed Mr Maleka that he had had problems getting the statement.
“I realised I could not get the statement by 4pm (on Monday) and told him there were problems,” said Mr Notshe.
“This morning (Tuesday) I told them (Gen Cele’s defence) I didn’t have a printed statement and offered my laptop so they can read it from there and they chased me away,” he said, leading to a few chuckles from the public gallery.
A few minutes after the adjournment, a printed copy of the statement was handed to Gen Cele, who sat next to his wife perusing it. Mr Maleka made notes. It was not immediately known who the witness was.
The inquiry is trying to establish whether Gen Cele acted corruptly, dishonestly or with an undeclared conflict of interest in relation to two police lease deals signed with businessman Roux Shabangu, his fitness to hold office and his capacity to efficiently execute his duties.
President Jacob Zuma appointed the inquiry in October after negative findings by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela into the SAPS leases. — Sapa.
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