Cat Matlala
The MK Party has rejected former Police Minister Bheki Cele’s claims before Parliament that businessman Louis Leibenberg funds the party and former president Jacob Zuma. The party said Cele’s remarks were false, politically motivated, and aimed at misleading the public during an inquiry into his conduct at SAPS.
The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) has vigorously condemned former Police Minister Bheki Cele for making what it called false and misleading statements about the party’s funding during his testimony before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee.
Cele appeared before the committee on Thursday as part of its ongoing inquiry into alleged corruption and irregularities in the South African Police Service (SAPS). The committee is probing the former minister’s role in police procurement and his association with controversial businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
During his testimony, Cele alleged that the MK Party was being funded by businessman Louis Leibenberg, who was arrested in 2024 for allegedly dealing in uncut diamonds.
“Leibenberg cleans diamonds, he funds MKP, maybe funds (Jacob Zuma) and through MKP,” Cele said.
His remarks drew swift criticism from the MK Party, which released a statement on Friday rejecting the allegations and describing them as defamatory.
In a statement MK Party condemned Cele’s baseless and misleading claims about party funding, the organisation dismissed his comments as completely false.
“The uMkhonto weSizwe Party categorically rejects the false and defamatory statements made at the Ad Hoc Committee hearings by Cele regarding alleged funding of the party by Louis Leibenberg,” said MK Party national spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela.
Ndhlela said that as a former Minister of Police, Cele had the authority and resources to investigate any unlawful activity if there had been substance to his claims. “His failure to act exposes these claims as nothing more than reckless political posturing intended to mislead the public,” he said.
The party said it viewed Cele’s conduct as an attempt to use Parliament to settle political scores. “The MK Party views Cele’s conduct as a desperate attempt to score cheap political favour at the Ad Hoc Committee, and we strongly denounce his irresponsible and dishonest statements,” said Ndhlela.
Leibenberg, who has described himself as a mining entrepreneur, has in the past been linked to Zuma. He publicly confirmed that he had assisted Zuma financially, including posting bail for him in 2021 after Zuma was charged with contempt of court. Leibenberg has also been seen attending events linked to the MK Party and has spoken of his friendship with Zuma.
Despite this history, the MK Party insisted that there is no financial relationship between the party and Leibenberg. “The MK Party’s operations are funded through lawful and transparent means as prescribed by the Political Party Funding Act. We reject any insinuation of illegal or secret funding,” the party said.
Cele’s claim about Leibenberg’s alleged role in the party’s finances came as part of a broader discussion on corruption and influence within government institutions. However, the MK Party said the remarks were irrelevant to the committee’s work and aimed at tarnishing its image.
The party reaffirmed its commitment to integrity and accountability, saying it would not be drawn into what it called “misleading narratives” meant to divert attention from the ongoing parliamentary inquiry into Cele’s own conduct as minister.
“The MK Party remains focused on its mission to advance the interests of the people of South Africa and will not be distracted by falsehoods or political provocation,” said Ndhlela.
