MK Party Fires Back at Bheki Cele Over ‘Baseless’ Louis Liebenberg Funding Claims

MK Party Fires Back at Bheki Cele Over ‘Baseless’ Louis Liebenberg Funding Claims

The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has hit back hard at former police minister Bheki Cele, calling his claims that the party was funded by alleged diamond dealer Louis Liebenberg “baseless” and “malicious.”

Cele made the explosive allegations during a recent parliamentary ad hoc committee hearing, where he described Liebenberg as “a king of zama zamas” a term for illegal miners and claimed the controversial businessman bankrolled the MK Party.

“There is a guy called LL, Louis Liebenberg. He’s a king of zama zamas. He cleans diamonds and everything. He has millions and millions. He funds the MK Party,” Cele told the committee, further alleging that Liebenberg paid R500,000 for a private legal case linked to the party.

MK Party Pushes Back: “Reckless Political Posturing”

MK Party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela dismissed Cele’s remarks as political theatrics aimed at tarnishing the party’s image.

“As a former Minister of Police, Mr Cele had both the authority and the responsibility to act on any such information if it were true,” said Ndhlela. “His failure to do so while in office exposes these claims as nothing more than reckless political posturing intended to mislead the public.”

Ndhlela went further, suggesting Cele’s comments were a desperate attempt to “score cheap political points” and deflect attention from his own shortcomings as police minister.

Who Is Louis Liebenberg? The Man at the Centre of the Storm

Liebenberg, a figure long associated with South Africa’s diamond trade, has faced numerous allegations of financial misconduct. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) recently confirmed that its Asset Forfeiture Unit secured a final forfeiture order for R4 million linked to Liebenberg’s company, ZencoCare (Pty) Ltd, part of the Forever Diamonds and Gold group.

According to the NPA, the funds were tied to a Ponzi-style investment scheme that promised investors high short-term returns on diamond parcels that never existed. “Investor funds were misappropriated and used to pay earlier investors,” said NPA spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana.

The seized money will be paid into the Criminal Assets Recovery Account (CARA), which supports South Africa’s anti-corruption and law enforcement work.

Liebenberg, his wife Desiree, and seven co-accused face multiple charges including fraud, theft, racketeering, and money laundering. They are set to appear before the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrates’ Court on November 25.

Public Reaction: Skepticism and Political Fatigue

On social media, South Africans expressed fatigue over what many see as yet another episode in the country’s endless cycle of political finger-pointing. Some X (formerly Twitter) users mocked Cele’s claims, suggesting he was “looking for relevance” after leaving the police ministry, while others demanded that Parliament investigate the allegations rather than letting them fade into political noise.

Meanwhile, supporters of the MK Party accused Cele of “weaponizing gossip” to discredit a rising political force ahead of potential coalition negotiations in several provinces.

A Broader Pattern of Political Scandals

The exchange between Cele and the MK Party underscores the deep mistrust that continues to plague South Africa’s political landscape. Funding scandals, often tied to high-profile business figures, have repeatedly surfaced in the post-apartheid era, from the arms deal controversy of the early 2000s to more recent state capture revelations.

For now, the MK Party remains adamant that no money, dirty or otherwise, has flowed into its coffers from Liebenberg or anyone linked to him.

“The truth,” Ndhlela said, “is that Mr Cele’s comments are nothing but an act of political desperation. The MK Party will not be distracted.”

This latest political skirmish reflects South Africa’s tense atmosphere ahead of potential coalition realignments. While Bheki Cele’s accusations have made headlines, without formal evidence or investigation, they may remain just that, claims in search of proof.

{Source: IOL}

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