Tshwane – Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele has spoken out about the hostage situation that took place at St George’s Hotel in Irene, Pretoria on Thursday night.
Gungubele, Defence Minister Thandi Modise, and Deputy Defence Minister Thabang Makwetla were rescued from being held hostage following a meeting between the Presidential Task Team and liberation combatants on matters of military veterans.
Revealing the ordeal in a video, Gungubele said together with Modise and Makwetla, they found themselves in a situation which they considered “untenable” and “legally unacceptable”.
Minister in the Presidency, Mr Mondli Gungubele gives an account of the incident which occurred at St George’s Hotel earlier this evening during a meeting between the Presidential Task Team on Matters of Military Veterans and Military Veterans. pic.twitter.com/RYcNq5Pwbf
— Presidency | South Africa ?? (@PresidencyZA) October 14, 2021
“We thought we were in a meeting whose intention was to attend to the problem that affects veterans. We could not agree on how the meeting should take place, we reached a point where I thought we agreed that it should adjourn.
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“As we were leaving the meeting, proceeding to the doors – it is at that point that we realised that we were held hostage. It is a situation that was averted by the security forces, very effectively and successfully,” the minister said.
Gungubele said they expect the law to take its course.
Here are some of the reactions on Twitter
This is just the Start.
People are Angry. People are Tired of Empty promises #MinistersHostage pic.twitter.com/h6H8BHqnLJ
— #KingBebe ?? (@KingMntungwa) October 15, 2021
In my view, this was not a hostage but an internal ANC political matter where these veterans were demanding to meet the president to get answers they want. This is not a security issue. Real hostage involves real weapons and ransoms. My 2 cent on this incident. #MinistersHostage
— Thandokuhle Thusi (@mrtvthusi) October 15, 2021
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Picture: Twitter/@PresidencyZA
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Compiled by Reginald Nhlapo
