Reacting to Cele's revelation, DA chief whip John Steenhuisen said the figures were appalling.
He blamed the low number of investigations and poor conviction rate on the incapacity of the police to do its most basic job of investigating crimes.
"It underscores the need for an honest and professional police service, as we have been calling for," he added.
Steenhuisen said the numbers spoke "to the ANC's penchant for corruption" which had now seeped into the police.
He said the figures for the cases that were being investigated, and for convictions, made an absolute mockery of SA's criminal justice system.
He accused the ANC government of being complacent and focusing on enriching themselves.
"Looking at these statistics, it was little wonder that companies like Bosasa had been able to get away with their misdeeds over more than a decade," said Steenhuisen.