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Bheki Cele Blasts ‘Heartless’ Public Reaction to Nathi Mthethwa’s Death

‘You Are Heartless’: Bheki Cele Rips Into South Africans Over Reaction to Nathi Mthethwa’s Death
Former police minister Bheki Cele has unleashed a fiery response to South Africans who reacted with criticism and suspicion after the death of former cabinet minister and ambassador Nathi Mthethwa. Speaking at a memorial service in Pinetown on Thursday night, Cele accused sections of the public of lacking compassion.
“You are heartless and you have no conscience, you are monsters,” he declared to the room, his frustration clearly aimed at those who dismissed Mthethwa’s death or used it to resurface allegations of corruption.
Public Reaction: Sympathy, Suspicion and Social Media Noise
Mthethwa’s sudden death in Paris last week sparked a divided response. While many expressed condolences, others questioned his legacy, pointing to scandals during his time as minister of police and later sports, arts and culture. Some online commentary suggested his death didn’t merit public mourning, something Cele said was “cruel and inhumane.”
The family has firmly denied any wrongdoing linked to Mthethwa and appealed for dignity during their mourning.
A Funeral Amid Political Fractures
Mthethwa’s body is expected to arrive in South Africa on Friday. A Special Official Funeral (Category 2) will take place on Sunday in KwaMthethwa, KwaZulu-Natal, as approved by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The family recently performed a traditional ritual in Paris to “fetch his spirit” from the 22nd floor of the Hyatt Regency Hotel, where he is believed to have fallen to his death. He was 58.
French authorities are still investigating the incident.
Cele Turns the Spotlight Back on the ANC
Cele didn’t stop at condemning the public. He used the platform to call out internal rot within the ANC, accusing some members of using the party for personal gain and then abandoning its values.
“We should stop nursing people who use the ANC to achieve their own motives,” he said, arguing that careerism and tender politics had “killed the party.”
He urged a return to grassroots activism, reminding councillors and leaders that they once took pride in being visibly ANC.
Service Delivery and Accountability Under Fire
Drawing from a recent visit to KwaMashu, Cele described witnessing sewage and clean water flowing like a “river” down a street where children were playing.
“My wife asked, ‘Where is the councillor?’ I’m sure that area has an ANC councillor,” he said, pointing to a disconnect between leadership and lived reality.
He called on ward councillors to face their communities directly: “Allow people to swear at you. Because when they don’t swear at you, they’ll swear at the ANC.”
A Divided Legacy
Mthethwa’s political journey, from liberation activist to minister to diplomat, spans South Africa’s democratic era. But his name has long been tied to controversies, including the Marikana massacre during his time as police minister and criticism over arts and culture funding decisions.
That mixed legacy is part of why public reaction has been so charged. Cele’s outrage reflects a broader discomfort within the ANC: how do you honour long-time leaders in an era where public trust has eroded?
What the Moment Reveals
Cele’s remarks weren’t just an emotional defence of a colleague, they exposed a growing tension between citizens and political elites. South Africans are increasingly unwilling to separate a leader’s death from their record in office. For many, mourning doesn’t erase accountability.
Yet for others, the harshness of the response feels like a loss of ubuntu, the cultural expectation of compassion, even in disagreement.
Mthethwa will be laid to rest in KwaZulu-Natal this Sunday. Whether sympathy grows or tensions sharpen may depend on what surfaces next, not only about his death, but about the ANC’s identity crisis playing out in real time.
{Source: IOL}
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