"Shoot-to-kill" remarks and use of deadly force 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. Although Cele denied that he used the words "shoot to kill," he admitted to having made other similar remarks, including, "We cannot allow police to be killed by criminals. Once criminals pull their guns, police must aim for the head." Speaking to the
Los Angeles Times, Cele denied that he had said the police should shoot to kill – instead, his point had been that it was dangerous for police officers to be unsure about whether they were permitted to use deadly force in a confrontation with an armed criminal. Asked about his remarks in 2018, after his appointment as Minister of Police, he again denied that he had used the phrase "shoot to kill," but said, "I’ve said that... when [police] deal with the tough brutal criminals, they must not die with their guns in their hands and I still say so." Since then, he has on several occasions reminded SAPS officers that they should use deadly force when necessary.
Conflict with Inkatha Freedom Party In January 2009, in the run-up to the
elections, Cele was present at a stand-off between ANC supporters and
Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) supporters at an ANC rally in
Nongoma, KwaZulu-Natal. The IFP accused Cele of provoking police to "brutalize" IFP supporters. Cele claimed that these claims were defamatory and, in February, filed a court application to interdict their publication. The application was dismissed.
Roux Property Fund property deals 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. The leases were worth more than R1.5 billion and were signed with Roux Property Fund. Madonsela said that the deals were "unlawful" and "illegitimate," and she held Cele – along with the
Minister of Public Works,
Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde – responsible. Although he had not signed the lease for the Pretoria building personally, he had signed a memorandum authorising funding for the lease. Cele denied any wrongdoing. into his possible misconduct. One of the questions pursued by the board of inquiry was the extent of Cele's relationship with Roux Shabangu of the Roux Property Fund – that is, whether Cele's conduct had been not only unlawful but also corrupt, as some have suggested. The board of inquiry found that Cele had been dishonest and was unfit for office, and recommended his dismissal. On 12 June 2012, Zuma announced that he had fired Cele on the basis of these findings. 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.
Whistleblower protection 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. However, Cele took the report under judicial review, and in 2020 the
Gauteng North High Court declared it invalid, clearing Cele of all wrongdoing. 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.
COVID-19 pandemic During the
2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Cele's leadership of the police was criticised, with Cele accused of "excessive policing" of compliance with
lockdown regulations.
Gun control Cele supports strict
gun control, and has said that he does not think that private citizens should be permitted to own firearms. A piece of gun control legislation introduced under his police ministry in 2021, the Firearms Control Amendment Bill, has encountered opposition from some civil society groups. Under the proposed law, self-defence would not be considered a valid reason for seeking a firearm license. Cele has defended the Bill on the grounds that most murders in South Africa are committed with firearms. Cameron later expressed that his issue was not with Cele personally but with the position he occupied and his handling of crime-related matters. This incident highlighted tensions and differing perspectives on community safety, police efficacy, and responsibility in addressing crime. == Police corruption scandal ==