Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, has assured South Africans that the country was secure and has ruled out the possibility of an unrest in the country.

Addressing the media in Parliament on Tuesday afternoon, Khumbudzo urged and also assured South Africans that the security cluster was solid and was able to do its work.

“There are men and women in various capacities who continue to work as compatriot for the protection of this country. There are men and women to make sure this country is safe,” she said.

“In any challenge confronting us, we are a resilient nation. We always find solutions and have addressed them because people are worried about national security. That is why the president has given stricter timelines to the commission of inquiry to report and make recommendations while it does its work. That must give South Africans the comfort that their security is a priority for this government.”

Asked whether there would be unrest, Ntshavheni asked rhetorically about the many times there has been mass mobilizations since the July 2021 unrest.

“They tried but the NatJoints and the security cluster managed to deal with those effectively. It has come to naught. That was the demonstration in our ability to handle any attempt at an uprising in the country. If we have to elevate above NatJoints, we will do the elevation above the NatJoints.”

Her comments come after some political parties and groupings are protesting in solidarity to KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

This after President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a commission of inquiry after Mkhwanazi made explosive allegations in connection with the disbandment of the task team on political killings and infiltration of the criminal justice system.

Among the people he implicated is Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who has since been placed on special leave pending the commission of inquiry and acting minister appointed in his place from August.

However, there is unhappiness with the placement of Mchunu on special leave and appointment of Wits professor Firoz Cachalia, and there are fears that action might be taken against Mkhwanazi for making the explosive allegations.

“I don’t know why they are protesting,” she said referring to the protesting political parties.

“I know General Mkhwanazi does not need anyone’s protection. So I don’t know why they are protesting.”

Ntshavheni also said the decision by Ramaphosa should be understood within the context of the principle of due process.

She also said the issue was not only about the allegations made by Mkhwanazi.

“It is about what the National Intelligence Estimates identified. There is a mandate of decontaminating the criminal justice system. We are aware of the challenges that are there. That is why there is priority that deal with that to say decontaminate the justice system of criminality and corruption.”

Ntshavheni said the country was in safe hands and that Ramaphosa wanted to get to the root of the problem and that the commission reports to Parliament and judiciary so they could deal with matters to be dealt with quickly, not joining the lynch mob of taking sides without facts.

“As the president he has the responsibility to make sure that there is a due process because if he does not follow the due process, the next moment” because people will take to the podium and make accusation and an expectation to follow that action should be taken. People must be given an opportunity to clarify themselves. It is finding and addressing the rot caused by the problem identified by in NIE to decontaminate the criminal justice of corruption and criminality to deal with crime.”

Ntshavheni also said Ramaphosa has given strict timelines for the commission to report in three and six months to him and Parliament and also make referrals for criminal prosecutions contrary to view that the commission will take forever.

“It addresses the issue of people being afraid, saying there might be delays in implementation of recommendations. There won’t be delays.”

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za

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