A South African man on Friday appeared in court for allegedly planning to assassinate 19 government officials and high-ranking businessmen.
The 33-year-old, who was arrested on Wednesday, was standing trial in the magistrate’s court in the commercial capital Johannesburg for plotting to kill people who he had identified as beneficiaries of “state capture.”
Fear of “state capture” has been widespread in South Africa since former public protector Thuli Madonsela released a report in November 2016 that accuses President Jacob Zuma and his close allies, including the Gupta business family, of influence peddling, nepotism and improper procurement practices.
“Broadcaster ANN7” reported that the names of the president and former boss of state-owned electricity provider Eskom, Brian Molefe, were on the list.
But the South African directorate for priority crime investigation, also known as Hawks, did not confirm this information.
The accused was arrested “while he was busy explaining to the donors how the assassination of state capture beneficiaries was going to be carried out by the undercover coup plot snipers,” Hawks spokesman Hangwani Mulaudzi told national broadcaster eNCA.
Hawks had been intercepting communication about the planned assassinations since October, according to Mulaudzi.
The accused had approached several companies and individuals for donations totalling 100,000 dollars to fund the killings, the spokesman said, adding that more arrests were imminent.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments
(
Atom
)
Trending News
-
Jose Mourinho has been given a one-match stadium ban and fined £50,000 after he admitted a breach of FA Rules in relation to post-match med...
-
Here’s yet another feel good music from Africa’s biggest wave making artist ‘Wizkid’ entitled ‘Final (Baba Nla)’; and was produced by Leg...
-
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), said it will reinvigorate exploratory activities in the seven hydrocarbon basins in th...
-
About 27 people were reported dead on Friday after Malian commandos stormed a luxury hotel in the capital Bamako with at least 170 people...
Post a Comment
Post a Comment