‘You are heartless, you’re monsters’: Bheki Cele slams public reaction over Nathi Mthethwa’s death

“You are heartless and you have no conscience - you are monsters.”

These were the sentiments shared by former police minister Bheki Cele, who condemned South Africans for showing little sympathy following the death of the country’s ambassador to France, Nathi Mthethwa.

Cele was speaking at a memorial service in Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal, on Thursday night.

“South Africans, you are Sodom and Gomorrah.  I don't care… You are heartless, have no conscience, you're monsters,” he said.

His outburst came after mixed public reactions to Mthethwa’s death, with some linking him to alleged corruption and wrongdoing.

Mthethwa’s family, however, has strongly rejected those claims.

“But all is well…We hope that Mthethwa will arrive on time tomorrow,” referring to the expected arrival of his remains on Friday. 

“We will be able to bury him, and we hope that he will look back at his politics and influence certain people to get the ANC on the right path.”

Cele, who also serves as the ANC’s national executive committee (NEC) member, warned against sympathising with those he believes have weakened the party.

“What we should stop is crying for people who are destroying this party,” he said. 

“We should stop nursing people who use the ANC to achieve their own motives. It should be clear when someone is not associated with the ANC but just wants money for contracts - because that is what has killed the party.”

He urged ANC members to return to the organisation’s founding principles and reconnect with the communities they serve.

“You kill it and come back and cry about things you knew you were not supposed to do. Let’s be the ANC we used to be. We should be part of our communities again,” Cele said.

“We used to walk tall and ask ourselves whether people saw that we were part of the ANC. Today, we are scared to be seen as ANC. It didn’t happen on its own - it’s because some people used it for their own gains, and when they reached the top, they kicked away the ladder to prevent others from climbing.”

Cele called on local leaders to “go back to basics,” urging councillors to be more visible and accountable.

“When people need you, they must be able to reach you as a leader,” he said. 

“What’s wrong with doing what we used to do - like cleaning up garbage and being among the people? Many eThekwini councillors are ANC members - you have the right to question their work.”

He also voiced frustration about poor service delivery in ANC-led municipalities and wards.

“Three weeks ago, I was driving through KwaMashu after attending a church event,” he said. 

“My wife asked, ‘Why is there a river in this room? Did a sewer and clean water pipe burst? Where is the councillor?’ This river was running, and children were playing in it. I’m sure that area has an ANC councillor.”

Cele said councillors must be willing to face criticism from their communities.

“Allow people to swear at you. You need to avail yourselves and face the people, because when they don’t swear at you, they’ll swear at the ANC,” he said. “I don’t believe the ANC is gone and finished. We must fix our ways.”

Mthethwa, who previously served as minister of police, as well as minister of sports, arts and culture, died last week on the 22nd floor of the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Paris. He was 58.

His family performed a traditional ritual at the hotel to fetch his spirit before bringing his remains home. 

His body is expected to arrive in South Africa on Friday.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared a Special Official Funeral (Category 2) for Mthethwa.

The funeral will take place on Sunday in KwaMthethwa, KZN.

French authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

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