Zuma, Cele in lease deal discussions

Zuma and Cele were currently in discussions over the matter, it added.

According to the presidency, a notice - in terms of the South African Police Act - was issued to Cele on 29 August.

"The National Commissioner was afforded an opportunity to make representations as to why the president should not suspend him pending the outcome of the inquiry," the Presidency said.

Cele had comprehensively responded to the president's notice and Zuma was considering these representations, it added.

"The National Commissioner is cooperating fully with the president in this process," the presidency said.

Zuma was also processing the Public Protector's recommendations with regards to other parties.

"As stated in previous communication, most of the matters the president is working on cannot be discussed in full without prejudicing affected parties. He will continue to follow due process to ensure that the matters are disposed of using correct procedures," the presidency added.

Public Protector Thuli Madonsela's first report on the police leasing deals, released in February, pertained to her investigation into the deal for the Middestad building in Pretoria, which was leased for R500 million from businessman Roux Shabangu.

The second, released in July, scrutinised the R1.16 billion leasing of Transnet Tower in Durban, also from Shabangu.

Madonsela found that the leases were unlawful, invalid and "fatally flawed".