Not much is known about 73 year old Bhekokwakhe “Bheki” Hamilton Cele apart from the details in his official CV, but that is sufficient to track his extraordinary rise to international fame as the man who put Durban Poison on the global map, launched the Grey zone and introduced investor-friendly, low tax incentives for ANC-licensed Mexican cartels to do business in South Africa.
A look at his CV is to track the footprints of the cannabis pioneer from Umzumbe who was incarcerated with other ANC leaders on a bleak and windswept Robben Island.
It was there that cadres devised their golden plan to capture South African cannabis.
Zuma was the ace strategist who came up with the ‘Horns of the Buffalo’ strategy, how the ANC would become the kings of cannabis through a two-pronged attack; to capture SAPS and the cartels at the same time, integrate their operations into one tight-knit organization and provide movement insiders with annuity income long after the ANC’s inevitable fall from power.
Cele, as an Island newcomer in 1987 had to suffer the indignities of being appointed Zuma’s fag, warming up his toilet seat in the morning and attending to his other personal needs. But by the time he was released in 1990, he and Zuma had clinched their deal and the new world order was in sight.
Step 1: Re-Imagining SAPS as a Cannabis Business Unit
Like the source of most trouble in SA, this exciting new journey started in KZN when the ANC took power in 1994. Cele was appointed the provincial MEC for Transport, Community Safety and Liaison, a portfolio carefully crafted from the Robben Island cannabis playbook. Take a look:
· ‘Transport’ enabled Cele to integrate the KZN taxi industry with local distribution channels and growers in the community; and put the right people in place at Durban and Richard’s Bay harbours to prioritize cannabis containers over others for the export market.
· ‘Community safety’ was self-explanatory – the safest communities were those that kept their mouths shut and did what they were told, while
· ‘Liaison’ was designed to be broad enough to engage with grower warlords from Okhahlamba to Matatiele, provincial SAPS and the shady importers in the hubs of Antwerp and Amsterdam, from where the delights of Durban Poison were distributed throughout Europe.
Step 2: Become CEO and Introduce Profit-Share Incentives for Staff
By 2007, the broader Zuma state capture project was in full-swing, the Guptas were on board but mercifully weren’t interested in drugs, and the way was clear for Cele to be deployed into a more meaningful role to develop the business – that of Minister of Police.
It was perfect. Cele had already attracted attention with his ‘shoot to kill’ instruction to the police, despite being only a KZN transport MEC at the time. The public misinterpreted this as a general standing order, whereas it actually originally applied only to rival cartel members.
Once he was appointed Police Minister in 2010, the ‘shoot to kill’ policy not only became official but a useful tool to have in negotiating with difficult suppliers. Cele was a popular choice as Minister and police remuneration improved substantially as chosen officers became the guardians of the new cannabis revenue streams that had been carefully put in place.
Everybody was happy.
But even the most diligent of us slip up occasionally, and Cele did so briefly in 2012 which forced his removal as Police Minister. This was after the then public protector Thuli Madonsela, found that Cele was responsible for leasing buildings for SAPS at vastly inflated prices.
Zuma was anxious that Madonsela would uncover the cannabis connection to the property deals and ‘fired’ Cele.
“Lie low my brother…he-he-he” advised the president and made him deputy minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, with the specific mandate of ensuring the sustainability of the sector going forward.
Step 3: Recruiting Cyril to Stem the Tide of Legalization
The redeployment gave cadre Cele enough time to complete a cannabis cultivation course and allow him to do what many believed impossible – to recruit Cyril Ramaphosa to the cause.
Cele’s pitch was good – Cyril would become a champion for legalization and create enough legislative confusion to distract the people while Cele would be groomed to handle the backroom ops of using police resources effectively to allow the ANC’s cannabis business to expand.
They sealed the deal at Phala-Phala over sundowners at the buffalo waterhole. The new Minister of Police-to-be explained how the laundering would work: “Just pretend you’re selling Ankoni cattle to the Middle East and keep the dollars out of the safe and I’ll do the rest” he said.
Ramaphosa’s other reason for Cele’s reappointment was to restrict the fall-out from the Constitutional Court decision to legalize cannabis. This was the first real threat the ANC’s cannabis interests had faced for years, and Cele was mandated to ensure this process would not happen under his watch. This he did with aplomb.
For years, the Cat in the Hat kept the cash flowing and palms greased as Durban Poison became South Africa’s iconic strain in both legal and illegal markets.
Step 4: Integrating Cops and Crooks by Launching the Grey Zone
Once the supply side had been sewn up Cele gave the instruction to cartel middle-management to begin opening up cannabis retail outlets in the metros.
His Grey Zone strategy was simple, yet effective.
· Cele would hold the cops back while his guys grabbed the prime locations.
· This would trigger widespread FOMO in the cannabis industry and legitimate entrepreneurs, bolstered by the perceived lack of law enforcement, would stampede for whatever market share remained.
· That in turn would be the signal for a new ‘SAPS cannabis ‘licence’ to be introduced: the R5k/month “Pay to Play” bribe to open a dispensary.
Cele’s plan was brilliant and evidence of its success is around for all to see: a billion rand Grey Zone cannabis economy with SAPS positioned as the Apex player.
Understandably, in time, the stress of launching the Grey Zone took a toll on Cele’s health. Juggling his public portfolio with the pressures of building a South African cannabis mega-empire became too much for him and he decided to call it quits.
“One more job and I’m out” the Cat in the Hat told Ramaphosa early last year before approving the R360 million tender for SAPS IT to his partner in crime – the other cat – Vusimusi ‘Kat’ Matlate.
Ramaphosa nodded knowlingly, and replaced him after the 2024 elections with Senzo Mchunu who was both cunning and ambitious, and as yet uncaught.
Mchunu’s primary task was to get more money into ANC coffers in a difficult trading environment. The party’s revenue centres were performing poorly: the cash in transit heist revenue was declining and tenderpreneur money had all but dried up. SAPS whistle blowers’ protection fund had been diverted and blown by Crime Intelligence which was now undergoing debt counselling.
But Mchunu made a serious error of judgement in looking internally to squeeze more margin. He alienated SAPS in KZN, the original home of Durban Poison, by demanding they hand over a bigger portion of their take to head office than was the case under Cele.
This was the last straw for KZN Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who exploded incoherently in early July 2025 about cartels and corruption instead of raising his grievances through the proper channels.
Thanks to the Gen Mkhwanazi’s impulsive, ill-considered actions, Ramaphosa had to move with uncharacteristic speed to ensure that South Africa’s cannabis operations remained intact.
Step 5: Succession Planning
He called Cele, who was enjoying his retirement in the company of his unofficial deputy commissioner, Kat Matlala. He explained the problem and as usual the Cat in the Hat provided the solution.
Cele would sacrifice Mchunu to the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into Police Corruption, and Comrade Vusimusi, the other Cat, would have to take the fall with jail time.
The punishment would be symbolic in nature, and as per usual, everyone would be paid handsomely to co-operate until the confusion settled and Matlala would enjoy every luxury Correctional Services could provide.
“But what about Ntathi?” asked the President. “He knows everything and he’ll sing like Ladysmith Black Mambazo at the Commission”.
“Sorted”, said the Cat. “Our Russian comrades are meeting him in Paris and will persuade him to take the fall, as they say in their language.”
“But then who’s going to run the show?” asked Ramaphosa. “Everybody’s tainted and/or incompetent”
“Relax” said Cele reassuringly, “SA Cannabis Inc will remain in good hands, and you going to love this!”
“I’ve got the right guy to take over, he’s perfect for the part and no-one will ever guess that he’s to become our new Gangster-in-Chief.
“Hey Firoz, my man….. come over here to the speaker phone and introduce yourself to the President…and please….. speak a little louder”.
Bheki Take a Bow
Bheki Cele gave SA cannabis his all, flooding international markets with his illicit exports while building the illegal market back home and curbing legalization by keeping the Justice Department in his pocket.
Few others have made such remarkable achievements without seeking public recognition for their actions. He will be remembered for for introducing profit-share incentives into SAPS, launching the ‘Pay to Play’ Grey Zone and providing an investor friendly, low-tax environment for Mexicans to make South Africa their home.
So, please acknowledge the Cat in the Hat’s selfless commitment to the South African cannabis industry over the last 50 years. The man’s a legend! Take a bow, Bheki, ‘Aloota Continua’!
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