South African Security Forces Freed Defence Minister Held Hostage

South African security forces / AP. South African security forces freed two cabinet ministers held hostage by war veterans demanding reparat...

South African security forces / AP.

South African security forces freed two cabinet ministers held hostage by war veterans demanding reparations for their involvement in the fight against White-minority rule a quarter-century ago. The Special Task Force was deployed to rescue Defence Minister Thandi Modise after she was held hostage. A group of disgruntled military veterans held Modise, Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele and Deputy Defence Minister Thabang Makwetla hostage for almost three hours. 

The Special Task Force stormed the St George's Conference Centre in Irene, Pretoria, on Thursday evening to rescue Defence Minister Thandi Modise, her deputy, Thabang Makwetla, and Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele after they were held hostage by disgruntled military veterans.

The elite unit, assisted by the military police and police, swooped in after the group blocked them from leaving a meeting meant to discuss their demands for government assistance. At least 56 people were arrested after the incident at a hotel near the capital, Pretoria, on Thursday night, the police said in a statement. They face charges of kidnapping, National Joint Operational & Intelligence Structure spokesman Vish Naidoo said.

Defence Minister Thandi Modise / SABC.

Police spokesperson Brigidier Vish Naidoo said "We got reports at approximately 19:15 this evening whereby we were informed of a possible hostage situation at a hotel in Centurion, Pretoria. We deployed our various disciplines of the SAPS and when attempts to negotiate with the hostage takers had failed, we successfully penetrated the room where these people were kept hostage and we rescued three hostages. Of the three hostages, two of them were cabinet ministers and one a deputy minister," he said. He said seven women were among the 56 arrested.

"There were no shots fired but while processing the suspects, we have taken three for medical treatment because they were complaining of pains. One has complained of injury and we are not sure how the injury was sustained," -Brigidier Vish Naidoo.

The group demanded an audience with President Cyril Ramaphosa and his deputy, David Mabuza. Gungubele confirmed the Task Force was sent in and the trio was made to leave just before 22:00 after being held hostage from 19:00. He said shortly afterwards: The Task Force was highly meticulous. They broke in and now they are arresting all of them. Gungubele added the group refused to discuss its concerns with anyone but Ramaphosa and Mabuza. "Our protectors couldn't do anything. We didn't want any force. So, we just sat and waited and communicated from there," he said.

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

Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele, Defense Minister Thandi Modise and her deputy, Thabang Makwetla, began talks with the war veterans on Thursday to discuss reparations. There was a disagreement on how the meeting should take place and the ministers were then prevented from leaving the hotel, Gungubele said on Twitter. “As we were leaving the meeting, proceeding to the doors, they closed the doors,” he said. “It is at that point when we realized that we were held hostage.” Spokespeople for both the ruling African National Congress and the government didn’t respond to calls for comment from Bloomberg News.

The former fighters want the government to pay them a once-off gratuity of 4.2 million rand ($284,000), provide assistance from financial institutions to help them establish businesses, and set up medical insurance for their families, Lwazi Mzobe, a spokesman for the veterans, told Johannesburg-based broadcaster Newzroom Afrika.