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The Citizen
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Sisulu Foundation slams Ntshavheni's ‘coup' remarks as 'deeply irresponsible'
In a shocking revelation, Ntshavheni claimed that the security cluster had identified potential risks of a coup in the country. The Walter and Albertina Sisulu Foundation has criticised Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni's claim that South Africa's security services had detected a potential coup d'état. The foundation said such remarks are 'deeply irresponsible, dangerous, and, in the current political climate, reckless in the extreme.' Coup In a shocking revelation on Tuesday, Ntshavheni claimed that the security cluster had identified potential risks of a coup in the country. Ntshavheni said the State Security Agency (SSA) and all relevant law enforcement agencies are actively working to prevent any uprisings or violent protests, similar to those seen during the July 2021 unrest. 'Irresponsible' The Walter and Albertina Sisulu Foundation slammed Ntshavheni, saying the coup claims are 'irresponsible, dangerous and damaging to South Africa's democracy.' 'To utter such claims on the parliamentary record—without presenting evidence, without public briefing, and without accountability—is not merely careless; it verges on fearmongering by executive design. 'Let's be clear: this statement was made in the immediate aftermath of the suspension, on paid leave, of Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, a key ally of President Ramaphosa, whose name has become entangled in serial allegations of political interference and suppression of forensic investigations,' the foundation claimed. ALSO READ: Are we safe? Ntshavheni says security cluster detected potential risks of a coup [VIDEO] 'Damning' The foundation claimed the timing of Ntshavheni's statement is 'damning.' 'It arrives just as public scrutiny of the president's handling of the police crisis reaches fever pitch. The appointment of a non-MP acting police minister (within his powers), the creation of yet another judicial commission (the fifth of his presidency), and the president's silence on Phala Phala have already enraged citizens. No wonder trust is collapsing. 'Ntshavheni's coup narrative functions as a classic deflection tactic—to distract public and parliamentary attention from real accountability questions. Instead of answers, we get an unverified claim of a coup attempt, floated in the most public forum of the land, then immediately dropped with no follow-up.' It said. Parliament must act The foundation said Parliament has a duty to act against Ntshavheni. Ntshavheni must be held accountable for her statements. If she has the intelligence to substantiate her remarks, she must provide it. 'If she does not, then her words should be withdrawn—and censured. The legislature must reclaim its oversight function and reassert the supremacy of constitutional order over political theatre,' the foundation said. The foundation said South Africans have a right to 'demand better: truth, transparency, and constitutional accountability. Not paranoia, not spin, not distraction. And certainly not ministers weaponising fear from the floor of Parliament.' ALSO READ: 'Ramaphosa will go down in history as one of the most useless presidents' – analyst
IOL News
6 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Sisulu Foundation slams Ntshavheni's ‘coup' remarks as ‘deeply irresponsible and dangerous'
Walter & Albertina Sisulu Foundation critisiced Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni for her recent remarks that South Africa's security services had detected 'potential coup risks.' Image: GCIS The Walter and Albertina Sisulu Foundation has harshly criticised Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni for her recent comments that South Africa's security services had detected 'potential coup risks,' calling her statement 'deeply irresponsible, dangerous, and, in the current political climate, reckless in the extreme.' 'To utter such claims on the parliamentary record - without presenting evidence, without a public briefing, and without accountability - is not merely careless, it verges on fear-mongering by executive design,' the foundation said in a statement. The statement followed Ntshavheni's remarks at a media briefing after she tabled the budget vote for the State Security Agency in the National Assembly. She said the National Intelligence Estimate and redacted National Security Strategy for the sixth administration identified a possible coup d'état as a national security risk. 'You need to identify and mitigate against it,' Ntshavheni said. 'One of the risks is the risk of a coup d'état. We have identified it and put measures in place to mitigate against it.' She emphasised that there had been no recent coup attempts, but said 'there are' people planning such actions. 'We continuously monitor them and make sure we deal with them,' she said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Ntshavheni also explained that intelligence agencies are not responsible for making arrests, but rather for providing the groundwork for law enforcement. 'We rely on law enforcement agencies to make the arrests… We would have made the spade work.' However, the foundation said that Ntshavheni's comments come at a politically charged time, shortly after President Cyril Ramaphosa placed Police Minister Senzo Mchunu - an ally of Ramaphosa - on special paid leave amid allegations of political interference and obstruction of criminal investigations. 'Mchunu's suspension followed explosive claims by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who bravely revealed a web of collusion between police leadership, political elites, and organised criminal syndicates,' the foundation said. 'Instead of responding with clarity, urgency, or reform, the government has done what it increasingly does when under pressure: create a diversion - and what better distraction than the specter of a coup?' The foundation said Ntshavheni's statement risks undermining both national stability and investor confidence. 'For a senior cabinet minister to casually mention 'potential coup risks' without any supporting detail or national security update risks inciting fear and breeding suspicion,' it said. 'It projects instability, even where none may exist, and it reinforces the worst fears of many - that this administration is willing to play loose with facts, weaponize paranoia, and erode democratic norms in a transparent, but dangerous, attempt to manage internal political fallout.' The foundation stressed that Ntshavheni's comments were made as public scrutiny over the president's handling of the police crisis reached a boiling point. 'The appointment of a non-MP acting police minister (within his powers), the creation of yet another judicial commission (the fifth of his presidency), and the president's silence on Phala Phala have already enraged citizens.' On Tuesday, Ramaphosa named Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe as acting minister of police while retaining his current portfolio. Professor Firoz Cachalia, who is set to retire from the University of the Witwatersrand, will assume the role permanently in August. This follows allegations by Mkhwanazi, who accused Deputy Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya of colluding with information peddler Brown Mogotsi and Mchunu to dismantle the task team investigating political killings in KwaZulu-Natal. In response, both Mchunu and Sibiya were placed on special leave. Ramaphosa also announced a judicial commission of inquiry to probe the allegations. The foundation went on to argue that Ntshavheni's 'coup narrative' may function as a deliberate attempt to distract the public and Parliament from holding leadership accountable. 'Instead of answers, we get an unverified claim of a coup attempt, floated in the most public forum of the land, then immediately dropped with no follow-up,' it said. 'This is not governance. It's governance by gaslight, and most disturbing of all, a disdainful display of continued disrespect for the South African people.' It also expressed concern that Ntshavheni's vague language might indirectly cast doubt on Mkhwanazi, the whistleblower whose testimony has kept the public talking. 'Her vague and ominous language, unaccompanied by evidence or clarification, could feed speculation that the commissioner himself could be viewed as a threat - an outrageous and potentially defamatory insinuation.' 'This less than subtle but loaded messaging creates public doubt, discredits a whistleblower, and may serve to sully Mkhwanazi's character and undercut his growing public support.' If that was the implication, the foundation said, Ntshavheni's remarks could amount to a violation of her constitutional oath. 'As a minister, Ntshavheni is constitutionally bound under Schedule 2 to be faithful to the Republic, uphold the Constitution, and serve with integrity,' the foundation said. 'Using her platform in Parliament to undermine a credible whistleblower, distort the national conversation, and deflect from political accountability is not only unethical, but it also borders on a breach of the constitutional duty to act in the public interest.' Furthermore, it warned that Ntshavheni's statement might taint the legitimacy of the judicial commission tasked with probing the alleged criminal infiltration of the justice system. 'A commission operating under the cloud of a supposed coup could be politically tainted from the outset, constrained in its independence, or misdirected in its mandate,' the statement read. The foundation called on Parliament to exercise its oversight powers. 'Ntshavheni must be called to account for her statements. If she has the intelligence to substantiate her remarks, she must provide it. If she does not, then her words should be withdrawn - and censured.' 'The legislature must reclaim its oversight function and reassert the supremacy of constitutional order over political theatre.' IOL Politics
IOL News
16-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Walter and Albertina Sisulu Foundation Calls for President Ramaphosa to Step Down Over Corruption Inaction
n a statement, the Foundation's chairperson, Dr Allan Boesak, criticised what he described as the President's lack of decisive leadership in tackling corruption and protecting the integrity of public institutions. The Walter and Albertina Sisulu Foundation has issued a bold call for President Cyril Ramaphosa to resign, accusing him of failing to confront the deepening corruption crisis in the country. This comes in the wake of recent allegations involving top police officials and the President's decision to place Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on special leave. The Foundation reacted strongly to Ramaphosa's move to establish a judicial commission of inquiry to investigate claims made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Commissioner Mkhwanazi has accused Minister Mchunu and several senior police figures of interfering in ongoing criminal investigations, raising serious concerns about political meddling in law enforcement. In a statement, the Foundation's chairperson, Dr Allan Boesak, criticised what he described as the President's lack of decisive leadership in tackling corruption and protecting the integrity of public institutions. 'We cannot pretend any longer that President Ramaphosa is serious about fighting corruption,' said Boesak. 'Since the time he took office, we would have hoped for bold and clear leadership. But time and again, he has failed to act when it mattered. His inaction sends a message that there are no real consequences for those who undermine justice.' Boesak said the President's response to the growing crisis in the police ranks shows weakness rather than commitment. 'Placing a minister on special leave and launching another inquiry are not signs of strong leadership. These are attempts to delay and deflect, not to resolve,' he added. The Foundation, which upholds the legacy of anti-apartheid leaders Walter and Albertina Sisulu, said the public deserves more than promises and commissions. According to Boesak, ordinary South Africans continue to suffer the consequences of corruption, including poor service delivery, rising crime, and growing inequality. The call for Ramaphosa's resignation marks a rare intervention by a respected civil society organisation rooted in the country's liberation history. It also reflects mounting frustration among citizens and civic leaders who feel that political accountability is being avoided under the guise of legal processes. The Presidency has not yet responded to the Foundation's statement. However, sources within government say the inquiry into the police interference claims will begin within the coming weeks, and the terms of reference are being finalised. Political analysts say the situation places renewed pressure on the President, who has long positioned himself as a reformer committed to cleaning up government. But with public trust in law enforcement and political leadership continuing to decline, critics argue that time is running out for Ramaphosa to prove that his administration is serious about change. For now, the Foundation is standing firm in its stance, insisting that only a fresh start under new leadership will restore public confidence and begin the difficult task of rebuilding institutions affected by years of political interference and corruption.
