Johannesburg — Johannesburg Council Speaker Nobuhle Mthembu has denied claims that she travels with a large security detail.
This follows a Johannesburg High Court ruling declaring the city’s VIP protection policy unconstitutional.
The policy had allocated the mayor 10 bodyguards and six vehicles, and the speaker eight bodyguards and five cars.
According to EWN, Mthembu clarified that she has never been assigned the full security detail or a convoy of blue-light vehicles.
She said that she has always complied with the law regarding security provisions, which were in place before her appointment as speaker.
Contrary to media reports, the Speaker has never had eight personal protectors or five vehicles. The Speaker is allocated one vehicle with two protectors who travel with her, with no escort or tail.#LetsFixJohannesburg pic.twitter.com/6jYEGi2I9V
— Speaker Nobuhle Mthembu | CoJ (@SpeakerofJoburg) January 6, 2025
According to IOL, Mthembu said she had noted the High Court’s judgement and said she was studying it in detail and will take the necessary steps, guided by legal advice.
“The court also expressed that the policy was implemented without a prior threat assessment or report from the South African Police Service (SAPS), which is required by law. The High Court declared the resolution and any prior decisions to expand personal protection allowances beyond the ministerial determinations and without a justified SAPS threat assessment unlawful,” the report quoted her as saying.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
