Hawks ‘assassination plot’ arrest absurd, says Institute for Security Studies
Assassination plot claims possibly set up by someone with ‘mental health problems or Zuma supporters to make him look like a victim’, says ISS
A Hawks statement about the arrest of a 23-year-old Pretoria man for allegedly plotting the assassinations of 19 South African politicians and prominent businesspeople has been labelled as "absurd" by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS). "I thought it was absurd and quite fantastical and I really was astounded. It’s something you really battle to understand‚" Gareth Newham of the ISS said on Thursday. "I don’t think it [the alleged assassinations plot] was a serious attempt‚" he said‚ saying it just did not seem plausible that anyone plotting a murder would approach businesses for money beforehand. Hawks spokesman Hangwani Mulaudzi said the suspect‚ who is expected to appear in court on Friday‚ had lobbied private businesses for funding for his plot to the tune of R140m. He called the venture the Anti-State Capture Death Squad Alliance‚ Mulaudzi said. "It could be someone who has mental health problems or it could be something being set up by Zuma supporters to make him look li...
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