The Walter and Albertina Sisulu Foundation has harshly criticised Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni for her recent comments that South Africa’s security services had detected “potential coup risks,” calling her statement “deeply irresponsible, dangerous, and, in the current political climate, reckless in the extreme.”
“To utter such claims on the parliamentary record – without presenting evidence, without a public briefing, and without accountability – is not merely careless, it verges on fear-mongering by executive design,” the foundation said in a statement.
The statement followed Ntshavheni’s remarks at a media briefing after she tabled the budget vote for the State Security Agency in the National Assembly.
She said the National Intelligence Estimate and redacted National Security Strategy for the sixth administration identified a possible coup d’état as a national security risk.
“You need to identify and mitigate against it,” Ntshavheni said.
“One of the risks is the risk of a coup d’état. We have identified it and put measures in place to mitigate against it.”
She emphasised that there had been no recent coup attempts, but said “there are” people planning such actions.
“We continuously monitor them and make sure we deal with them,” she said.
Ntshavheni also explained that intelligence agencies are not responsible for making arrests, but rather for providing the groundwork for law enforcement.
“We rely on law enforcement agencies to make the arrests… We would have made the spade work.”
However, the foundation said that Ntshavheni’s comments come at a politically charged time, shortly after President Cyril Ramaphosa placed Police Minister Senzo Mchunu – an ally of Ramaphosa – on special paid leave amid allegations of political interference and obstruction of criminal investigations.
“Mchunu’s suspension followed explosive claims by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who bravely revealed a web of collusion between police leadership, political elites, and organised criminal syndicates,” the foundation said.
“Instead of responding with clarity, urgency, or reform, the government has done what it increasingly does when under pressure: create a diversion – and what better distraction than the specter of a coup?”
The foundation said Ntshavheni’s statement risks undermining both national stability and investor confidence.
“For a senior cabinet minister to casually mention ‘potential coup risks’ without any supporting detail or national security update risks inciting fear and breeding suspicion,” it said.
“It projects instability, even where none may exist, and it reinforces the worst fears of many – that this administration is willing to play loose with facts, weaponize paranoia, and erode democratic norms in a transparent, but dangerous, attempt to manage internal political fallout.”
The foundation stressed that Ntshavheni’s comments were made as public scrutiny over the president’s handling of the police crisis reached a boiling point.
“The appointment of a non-MP acting police minister (within his powers), the creation of yet another judicial commission (the fifth of his presidency), and the president’s silence on Phala Phala have already enraged citizens.”
On Tuesday, Ramaphosa named Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe as acting minister of police while retaining his current portfolio.
Professor Firoz Cachalia, who is set to retire from the University of the Witwatersrand, will assume the role permanently in August.
This follows allegations by Mkhwanazi, who accused Deputy Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya of colluding with information peddler Brown Mogotsi and Mchunu to dismantle the task team investigating political killings in KwaZulu-Natal.
In response, both Mchunu and Sibiya were placed on special leave. Ramaphosa also announced a judicial commission of inquiry to probe the allegations.
The foundation went on to argue that Ntshavheni’s “coup narrative” may function as a deliberate attempt to distract the public and Parliament from holding leadership accountable.
“Instead of answers, we get an unverified claim of a coup attempt, floated in the most public forum of the land, then immediately dropped with no follow-up,” it said.
“This is not governance. It’s governance by gaslight, and most disturbing of all, a disdainful display of continued disrespect for the South African people.”
It also expressed concern that Ntshavheni’s vague language might indirectly cast doubt on Mkhwanazi, the whistleblower whose testimony has kept the public talking.
“Her vague and ominous language, unaccompanied by evidence or clarification, could feed speculation that the commissioner himself could be viewed as a threat – an outrageous and potentially defamatory insinuation.”
“This less than subtle but loaded messaging creates public doubt, discredits a whistleblower, and may serve to sully Mkhwanazi’s character and undercut his growing public support.”
If that was the implication, the foundation said, Ntshavheni’s remarks could amount to a violation of her constitutional oath.
“As a minister, Ntshavheni is constitutionally bound under Schedule 2 to be faithful to the Republic, uphold the Constitution, and serve with integrity,” the foundation said.
“Using her platform in Parliament to undermine a credible whistleblower, distort the national conversation, and deflect from political accountability is not only unethical, but it also borders on a breach of the constitutional duty to act in the public interest.”
Furthermore, it warned that Ntshavheni’s statement might taint the legitimacy of the judicial commission tasked with probing the alleged criminal infiltration of the justice system.
“A commission operating under the cloud of a supposed coup could be politically tainted from the outset, constrained in its independence, or misdirected in its mandate,” the statement read.
The foundation called on Parliament to exercise its oversight powers.
“Ntshavheni must be called to account for her statements. If she has the intelligence to substantiate her remarks, she must provide it. If she does not, then her words should be withdrawn – and censured.”
“The legislature must reclaim its oversight function and reassert the supremacy of constitutional order over political theatre.”
Politics
