17-07-2025
Talk of coup in South Africa unrealistic, say experts
'There is definitely weakness in our security and there are comprehensive recommendations about the national intelligence, not crime and military intelligence, but the national State Security Agency. However, there has been little progress in implementation,' Kotze said.
'One reason is that intelligence in general has been politicised. People talk about it being 'weaponised'. It's used in internal ANC politics to compromise people and gather information, not necessarily for national security reasons.'
Kotze said the report Ntshavheni based the risk of a coup on does not identify a coup as an immediate or short-term risk. 'I think it's a bit of an overstatement to say a coup is imminent based on what's in the actual document. From what I see in the assessment, it's not stated in that way,' he said.
Advocate Sipho Mantula, a law expert, said South Africa would be able to respond to any threats. He said a coup is normally led by the military.
'What I read there was more about the idea that if the president takes action against Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi [KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner] or proceeds with the case against him, it might cause unrest similar to what we saw in the July 2021 unrest.'
He said Ntshavheni should have detailed what sort of coup she was talking about. 'So you can't just come out and say those things. I think the issue of the special task force wearing uniforms that resemble military attire was perhaps a misunderstanding.'
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