Intelligence Community Under Scrutiny, Pule Mabe Says ANC Not To Blame For Riots
- ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe says individuals involved in the violent protests and continued looting are not members of the ANC
- Many people have been very critical of South Africa's intelligence agency for lack of action in the prevention of the riots
- Zwelinzima Vavi says that the South African government was warned about the employment rate and how it would affect the country
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ANC national spokesperson Pule Mabe said the party should not be held responsible for the looting and infrastructure destruction perpetrated in the name of former president Jacob Zuma.
Mabe stated that the people involved in the looting and destruction of property were not members of the ANC and warned against linking them to the party, according to a report by IOL.
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"When you loot a shop, that's a criminal activity, it has nothing to do with the ANC – a crime is a crime," Mabe said
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Mabe was reacting to the widespread looting, thefts and destruction of businesses in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal that began last week. Protests were initially initiated in response to the arrest of former president Jacob Zuma who was sentenced to 15-months by the Constitutional Court for being in contempt of court.
Former State Security Agency agent Lloyd Mhlanga says the protests were fuelled by political pressure for the release of Zuma, reports EWN.
Mhlanga is also very critical of South Africa's intelligence agency, stating that it has failed South Africa to some extent.
Mhlanga added that the intelligence community's job is to gather intel in order to assist the country's decision-makers in averting incidents that could disrupt law and order, according to a report by IOL.
Reacting to the criticism aimed at the country's intelligence agency, State Security Minister Ayanda Dlodlo says the intelligence agency has been competent in its role and have been handing over information to the South African Police Services, according to EWN.
Zwelinzima Vavi, general-secretary of the South African Federation of Trade Unions says that the government was warned time and time again to deal with the increasing unemployment rate.
Vavi stated that a country with a 63% youth unemployment rate was a ticking time bomb and it was only a matter of time before the youth got involved in a social crisis.
"You needed to just have a spark and a spark has happened," he said in a quote by IOL.
Bheki Cele asks citizens to refrain from vigilantism, says 12 instigators of unrest found
Briefly News recently reported that Minister of Police Bheki Cele has urged people to refrain from vigilantism. The Minister has asked communities to not take matters into their own hands by using the fact that they are protecting their communities from the ongoing looting and riots.
Cele was speaking in Alex, Gauteng shortly after the South African National Defence Force was deployed in the area to help ease the violence from the riots and intense looting. Cele also revealed that the police have a list of 12 instigators of the current unrest within the Country.
The media at the scene questioned Cele about the list by asking if this included members of former president Jacob Zuma's family. Cele jumped around the question by reiterating that they had a list of '12 South Africans' inciting the violence in Mzansi.
According to The South African, KZN citizens have taken a stand against the violence that has engulfed their province. Various videos posted on social media depict communities in all parts of the province arming themselves in order to protect businesses and stores from the looters rampaging the area.
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Source: Briefly News
