Bheki Cele vs the British media, a big scuffle over pretty much nothing

While almost none of the pre-2010 FIFA World Cup security threats have materialised (that we know of), it does appear as if cases that embarrass The General the most are getting the lion's share of police attention.

By Mandy de Waal: @mandyldewaal

30 Jun 2010

Bheki Cele vs the British media, a big scuffle over pretty much nothing

The Sunday Mirror's Simon Wright appeared in Cape Town's special World Cup court on Wednesday, 30 June 2010, on charges of defeating the ends of justice and contravening the Immigration Act. This little lot follows his release on R3000 bail, but gave General Bheki Cele enough reasons to call a media conference at which he declared that Wright was part of a conspiracy to undermine global perceptions of security at the 2010 World Cup.

"Change-room invader" Pavlos Joseph's breach of security at Cape Town's stadium caused considerable embarrassment to Cele and the police force when news reports of the security own-goal circled the globe. Frog-marching Wright to court Fifa-esque could smack of revenge more than real justice and it is likely that, if Wright is guilty of anything, it's unethical journalism or staged reporting.

Continue reading the full story, with video, at www.thedailymaverick.co.za.

Source: Daily Maverick

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Mandy de Waal

About Mandy de Waal: @mandyldewaal

Editor, writer and researcher. *Editor of #TheFutureByDesign & The Africa Annual *Published in Africa's Greatest Entrepreneurs *Published in Rolling Stone Magazine, The Guardian (UK), Daily Maverick, Finweek, Mail & Guardian, City Press, Rapport, Moneyweb, Noseweek; Brainstorm Magazine; ITWeb, and MarkLives. *Before becoming a full time writer, de Waal founded brand agency Idea Engineers, and led the Cape Town office of Text 100.