The State is in the process of purchasing a house worth close to R3-million for the newly appointed national commissioner Bheki Cele, his office said on Friday.

"The SA Police Service acquisition of a residence for the national commissioner is above board," said Assistant Commissioner Nonkululeko Mbatha in a statement.

She said the house being purchased for Cele would cost government R2 989 092.30 including legal and transfer fees.

Mbatha said numerous efforts were made to acquire a state-owned residence for Cele when he was appointed. The attempts included approaching the Department of Public Works from which it was established that there was no available official residence.

She said two options were explored, leasing and purchasing a house.

After serious consideration it was decided that leasing a house would not be cost effective but rather purchasing which would cater for a medium to long term factor.

Mbatha said the house was for permanent acquisition for the current and future utilisation by incumbents to this post.

The previous two National Commissioners had owned residential houses in Pretoria, unlike the current National Commissioner who comes from KwaZulu-Natal.