By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Defence Minister Thandi Modise and her Deputy Thabang Makwetla alongside Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele were held hostage by disgruntled military veterans on Thursday night.
The talks between the Presidential Task Team and the ex-combatants broke down and both parties could not reach an agreement.
In a statement released shortly after the ordeal, the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJoints) said police received a report of a hostage situation involving ministers.
“At approximately 19:15 on Thursday evening, police received a report of a possible hostage situation in which two cabinet ministers and a deputy minister were allegedly taken hostage,” the statement read.
Modise,Gungubele and Makwetla were held hostage after a meeting between them and the veterans broke down.
NATJoints said the police’s negotiation attempts with the hostage takers failed.
“At least 56 people, including seven women, have been arrested and they are likely to face charges of at least three counts of kidnapping. Police successfully rescued at least three hostages.”
This event follows a sit-in protest by the irate veterans at the ANC’s Luthuli House headquarters early this week.
Detailing what transpired, Gungubele said they were about to leave the meeting when all the doors were closed by some of the military veterans attending the meeting.
“It is at that point we realised we were being held hostage. It is a situation that was averted by the security forces very effectively and successfully. We want to thank Minister Bheki Cele and all security forces and whatever branch was involved for a prompt and timeous intervention… We expect the law to follow its course in dealing with the behaviour of this nature,” he said.
A member of the veterans, Lwazi Mzobe, said shots were fired when the Task Force and military police swooped in.
“One of our comrades was shot and is on a stretcher. Another has been helped on the floor,” he said, speaking from St George’s.
Mzobe added the group was made to sleep on the floor and arrests were imminent.