Mondli Gungubele thanks police for rescuing him from ‘untenable’ hostage situation

“Untenable” and “legally unacceptable”.

That is how Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele described the incident on Thursday night, where he was held hostage by military veterans.

Gungubele, along with Defence Minister Thandi Modise and her deputy Thabang Makwetla, was meeting with members of the Liberation Struggle War Veterans (LSWV), Azanian People’s Liberation Army (Apla) and Azanian National Liberation Army (Azanla) when things turned sour.

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The veterans reportedly got angry because they were promised a meeting with Deputy President David Mabuza. They then allegedly refused to allow Gungubele, Modise and Makwetla to leave the building.

In a video released by the Presidency on Thursday evening, Gungubele thanked police for rescuing them, saying: “We would like to thank [Police] Minister Bheki Cele and all the other security forces for their prompt and timeous intervention… we expect the law to follow its course.”

Describing the situation in the hotel, Gungubele said. “As we were leaving the meeting, proceeding to the doors, they closed the doors. It is at that point we realised we were held hostage. It is a situation which was averted by the security forces,” he said.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Vish Naidoo said at least 56 people, including seven women, were arrested.

“They are likely to face charges of at least three counts of kidnapping,” he said.

ANC national spokesperson Pule Mabe has since called for negotiations.

“Government is always open and is willing to negotiate with the military veterans. The military veterans should never be sidelined or forgotten because they are part and parcel of the ANC’s history,” said Mabe.

“The process started by President Cyril Ramaphosa to address the grievances of military and war veterans must be supported, so as to expeditiously address legitimate grievances of veterans,” added Mabe.

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Compiled by Gareth Cotterell. Additional reporting by Vhahangwele Nemakonde