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Minister in the Presidency responsible for State Security, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni
The Minister in the Presidency responsible for State Security, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, states that one of the country’s risks identified in the National Security Strategy for 2024-2028 is a possible coup d’état.
She was briefing the media at Parliament after the debate of her department’s budget vote in the National Assembly.
The debate follows recent damning allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, regarding serious safety and security concerns, which, among other things, implicated Police Minister Senzo Mchunu.
In response to this, President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a Judicial Commission of Inquiry and placed Mchunu on special leave.
Ntshavheni adds that while not all risks will become reality, it is planned for and mitigated against.
“One of the risks is the risk of coup d’etat, to say there is a potential risk of a coup d’etat. We have identified it and we’ve put measures to mitigate against it. So that’s why we say to South Africans, there has not been anyone attempting to do a coup in South Africa.”
“In the last few days or in the last few weeks, there has not been anyone attempting to do a coup in South Africa. We can say that they are not people planning, they are, but we’re continuously monitoring them and making sure that we deal with those,” she explains.
Madlanga Commission
Minister Ntshavheni has made an undertaking that the State Security Agency and all intelligence structures reporting to her will give their cooperation to the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry announced by President Ramaphosa at the weekend.
Ntshavheni assures MPs of the cooperation of the SSA and other agencies.
“As I table this vote, I want to commit that SSA and all intelligence structures that I am responsible for will avail themselves for the Judge Madlanga Commission of inquiry as announced by the President.”
