From the onset let me state without any equivocation: that the above mentioned report is a fabrication. It is a fake. Apparently it is a “covert operations” report drafted for maximum damage to sow confusion within the government as well as the governing party - the African National Congress (ANC). It also has ramifications for the ANC Alliance partners.
As far as I am concerned, covert operation activities unlawfully linking my name is not something new. Over the years one had to navigate several gossip/slander and other smear campaigns intended to harm ones reputation.
I am informed that we have not seen the last of these dirty tricks. The most celebrated smear was the fabricated plot involving Cdes Mathew Phosa, Cyril Ramaphosa and myself linking all three to rumours of a coup against the ANCs and South Africa’s President Cde Thabo Mbeki. The rest is now history.
What is strikingly different this time round is that - rumour has a return address. This is traceable to one of South Africa's Courts in Boksburg where government declassified documents containing these allegations where presented by Lt. General Mdluli, Head of Crime Intelligence Division within the South African Police Services.
Again, as it is, rumour also has an author and the address and his office is located within the head quarters of our National Police department.
The abovementioned conspiracy report ostensibly deals with a plot to unseat Cde Jacob Zuma as ANC President and clearly by definition the President of the country to be replaced by yours truly.
A range of names are libellously paraded as plotters on my behalf. These include but are not limited to Cdes Fikile Mbalula, Jeff Radebe, Bathabile Dlamini, Paul Mashatile, Tony Yengeni, Julius Malema, Zweli Mkhize, Siphiwe Nyanda, Mathew Phosa, Cassel Mathale, David Mabuza Enoch Godongwana and General Bheki Cele, the list goes on.
All these leaders are regarded by myself as totally innocent of these allegations which I must again emphasise are false. It is ludicrous yet serious to note one fabrication, this being that all these and others had meeting to consolidate their plot in Escort KwaZulu-Natal on 23 January, this year.
We note the following:
1. The President of the ANC and of the country has poured cold water on these divisive rumours.
2. The ANC itself has condemned this report as a “fake” and expressed its confidence in all the people mentioned.
3. Police Minister Cde Nathi Mthethwa has poured scorn at this report distancing both his office and that of General Cele from its origin and its contents.
4. Many if not all of the individuals whose names are mentioned in this conspiracy report have also issued statements or made comments against it.
If all these are taken as fact, as indeed they are, then many questions arise. Put simply, regarding myself who is the figure located in the centre of this so-called conspiracy report, I therefore demand to know answers to the following questions:
1. Who commanded Mdluli to conduct this covert operation?
2. What exactly were his orders and what was the motive?
3. To whom was General Mdluli reporting?
4. Which other officers/persons was he working with at his level?
5. Below him, who had he authorised to conduct this operation?
6. Did the people he commanded had to tap phones, clandestinely open mail, tail any individuals and so on?
7. Who provided resources – e.g. monies, offices, equipment, logistics and so on?
8. When did this covert operation commence and exactly when was it to conclude?
9. Was he or others aware that they were dabbling in party political activity - something unlawful?
10. Did he or others attempt to interview any of the political individuals mentioned above as alleged plotters - If not why not?
11. Did he or other officers collude with any other Politian(s) or government officials who might have encouraged such illegal activity?
12. Currently faced with a charge of murder, would he be prepared to come clean about the true origins and motives of this fabricated story?
Meanwhile I have appointed a team of legal persons including – Advocates Sikhakhane and Hurwits, instructed by Mr Chuene to follow up on all that is required for justice to be done.
Furthermore, they have the following tasks:
1. To keep a watching brief of the proceedings in the forthcoming Mdluli murder case.
2. To make applications for a discovery of all relevant documents pertaining to this matter both from the Court and elsewhere.
3. To cooperate with the legal team of Mvelaphanda Group Company which was rubbished in the conspiracy report.
4. To cooperate with legal teams of other litigants such as Dr Zweli Mkhize’s who has publicly announced that he is considering taking legal steps; and
5. There upon to advice on the need for any criminal or civil action to be undertaken.
To conclude:
We are here confronted with a situation of serious abuse of office, state power and resources in the conduct of illegal and criminal activity by high ranking members of the Police.
This is done by persons and entrusted with upper most authority who are in senior positions and who are located at the highest echelons of South Africa’s law enforcement hierarchy.
Their task was to conduct activities towards the prevention and eradication of crime; currently a serious challenge in our country. Instead, they were engaged and participated in nefarious plans and unlawful actions to attempt to sow confusion within the ranks of the African National Congress – and by definition the government.
They were put there in positions of trust as Praetorians to protect us all as citizens against criminals; rather they opted to take a lead in criminal behaviour against a political party by extension, this government.
A thorough investigation is going to have to be conducted to get to the bottom of this ugly episode.
Our mission is to improve the quality of life of citizens. It is not to have our time wasted in pursuance of matters associated with criminality conducted by those we should be trusting them most to enforce the law.
Source: Department of Human Settlements