ZAFormer South African Police Minister Bheki Cele testified before the Khampempe Commission that the state should not have covered legal costs for former apartheid-era Security Branch officers facing prosecution for human rights violations. He argued that paying for their legal defense was unjust, especially since these individuals were responsible for torture, kidnapping, and killings during apartheid, which the UN classified as a crime against humanity. Cele expressed personal anguish over this issue, citing his experience as an anti-apartheid activist who lost comrades to state violence. While acknowledging court orders compelled the South African Police Service (SAPS) to fund the legal costs, he stated he believed the perpetrators should bear the financial burden of their actions rather than the victims' descendants. He admitted complying with a court ruling in the Cosas Four case after being advised by the head of the Hawks not to challenge it.
Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the issue through the lens of historical justice and moral accountability, emphasizing the ethical implications of state funding for former apartheid-era perpetrators. The language underscores the injustice of allowing those responsible for crimes against humanity to benefit from,
