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Zuma fears for his life
10/09/2006 17:10 - (SA)
S'thembiso Msomi
Johannesburg - Embattled African National Congress deputy president Jacob Zuma wants his security beefed up because he feels his life is under threat.
It is understood he believes that his life is under threat, a claim that has been rejected by police.
City Press has established that Zuma - who is facing charges of corruption and is involved in the race to succeed President Thabo Mbeki as the leader of the ANC - met protection and security services commissioner Mzondeki "Sean" Tshabalala last week to raise "concerns" about his security.
As a result of the concerns, the country's security agencies are now engaged in a thorough review of the security needs of all the VIPs under their protection.
NIA, MI asked to get involved
These include Mbeki, deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, former president Nelson Mandela and apartheid-era heads of state, FW de Klerk and PW Botha.
According to sources close to Zuma, police have written letters to the national intelligence agency (NIA) and military intelligence (MI) asking them to become involved in the review.
After this, police will perform a security assessment on each of the principals to determine if they need security beefed up or scaled down.
Zuma's office and Tshabalala refused to comment on the meeting.
But, sources say Zuma's security has been on high alert for some time now and that his closest political associates, such as SA Communist Party leader Blade Nzimande and ANC Youth League president Fikile Mbalula, also have increased security.
One source said it was because of the Zuma camp's "heightened security fears" that Vavi this week "over re-acted" when he heard that Zobaphi Sithole, chairperson of the Friends of JZ Trust in Gauteng, had been shot dead.
Vavi had stopped short of saying that Sithole was killed because of his activities for the trust.
Cops 'need evidence'
But, police have said since that Sithole's death was linked to taxi violence in Soweto and had nothing to do with politics.
A senior police source has played down the security concerns, saying Zuma and his people have not given them clear evidence that he may be a target of any attack.
Asked about Zuma's meeting with police, aide Ranjeni Munusamy declined to comment.
"We cannot comment on that. You must refer matters of security to the police," she said.
- City Press
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