Zuma’s arrest ‘used by instigators to create mayhem’

FORMER president Jacob Zuma’s arrest was used by instigators to create instability in the country, Deputy Minister of State Security Zizi Kodwa said.

He said the failed national shutdown this week and another similar aborted national shutdown two weeks ago were part of plans to destabilise the country.

South Africa was plunged into violence in July when businesses and other infrastructure were destroyed in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

Kodwa, who took part in a debate in the National Council of Provinces on the violence in the provinces, said the intelligence services were now “better prepared”.

“Our intelligence has revealed that the arrest of former president Zuma was not a driver of this conduct, but an exploitation event to trigger instability in the country. We know now that these events were not isolated incidents but a well co-ordinated, planned attempt to cripple the state and destroy infrastructure,” he said.

“We can say so, chairperson, because there are various other events of a similar nature that had been planned but did not succeed, because this time we were better prepared.

“Honourable members, we have seen how the same instigators organised what they called a national shutdown for our country – for example … on August 23 and over the long weekend of August 9 … Attempts to subvert the state were in motion. Both those attempts had failed because South Africans refused to allow their genuine grievances such as the high rate of unemployment, poverty and inequality, to be used to advance nefarious agendas.”

Police Minister Bheki Cele said crime intelligence was being improved so it could deal with violence and other challenges. The unit had been hollowed out, but they were now getting it back to the required standard.