President Zuma "releases" Cele as police chief, appoints Phiyega

Police Chief Bheki Cele was fired by Mr Zuma on 12 June after the president received a report compiled by a board of inquiry chaired by retired Justice Jake Moloi.

Cele is the second police chief to be fired by the president. His predecessor, Jackie Selebi, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for corruption in 2010.

Mangwashi Phiyega has been appointed to replace Cele. She is the chairwoman of the presidential review committee on state-owned entities and deputy chairwoman of the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers.

The board of inquiry, chaired by Justice Jake Moloi, was established after Public Protector Thuli Madonsela found in July last year that the Gen Cele’s role in the awarding of almost R2bn-worth of leases for police accommodation had been improper, unlawful and amounted to maladministration.

Business Day reports that Zuma said Justice Moloi "presented the report to me on May 20"adding: "The report was made available to Gen Cele, who made representations to me thereon. I subsequently met with him on Friday June 8 to discuss the matter."

"The reports of the public protector and that of the board of inquiry indicate deficiencies administratively, and in particular in relation to General Cele’s duties as an accounting officer."