South Africa's Zuma fires top ministers, suspends police chief

South Africa's Zuma fires top ministers, suspends police chief

2011-10-25 05:58:32 GMT+7 (ICT)

JOHANNESBURG (BNO NEWS) -- South African President Jacob Zuma on Monday fired two cabinet ministers implicated in graft and suspended the national police commissioner as the government launched an investigation into allegations of corruption.

Zuma announced in a press conference in Pretoria the sacking of public works minister Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde and cooperative governance minister Sicelo Shiceka as part of a cabinet reshuffle. Shiceka is suspected of spending $75,672 on unauthorized luxury travel, including overseas visits to a girlfriend imprisoned in Switzerland for drug smuggling.

Mahlangu-Nkabinde earlier said that heads will roll in connection with an inflated police headquarters leasing deal, but not hers. She said she would not resign even though Public Protector Thuli Madonsela found her guilty of maladministration and violating the constitution.

National police commissioner Bheki Cele was suspended with full pay and benefits for his implication in alleged unlawful property deals, pending an inquiry. The Board of Inquiry comprises retired Justice Yvonne Mokgoro, Advocate Terry Motau, Advocate Anthea Platt and Justice Mokgoro who will lead the investigation.

"In August, I informed the National Commissioner, General Bheki Cele, of my intention to institute a Board of Inquiry to look into the allegations of misconduct, in relation to the procurement of office accommodation for the South African Police Service, as per the findings and recommendations of the Public Protector," Zuma said.

Zuma also appointed three judges to investigate allegations of wrongdoing in the Strategic Defense Procurement Packages, generally known as the "arms deal". Top officials allegedly benefited from the 1999 deal which was worth nearly 5 billion dollars.

Zuma said Justice Seriti will chair the Commission, which is expected to complete its work within two years.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions congratulated President Zuma "on his firm action and hopes that this announcement marks a turning point in the fight against maladministration and corruption." It said there should be a policy of zero-tolerance to the looting of public resources.

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