Paper slammed over Zuma 'plot'

2007-05-21 18:38

Durban - Two men alleged to have been involved in concocting the recent "assassination plot" against ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma lambasted the City Press newspaper at a news conference in Durban on Monday.

Barnabas Xulu - the administrator of the Zuma Trust - and Peete Mbambo read out a statement at a Durban hotel saying the City Press story - debunking the claim of an assassination plot - was "riddled with inaccuracies and untruths which appear to have been manufactured".

On Sunday the City Press reported that the much-talked about "assassination plot" against ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma was a "poorly-thought-through hoax" which centred on a vagrant who was paid R2 000 to make the claim.

City Press said a group of six people formed the core team behind the assassination hoax. The hobo, identified as Ben Wyland Coetzee, had been arrested and had reportedly confessed to crime intelligence police in a detailed affidavit.

"Neither of us are part of any team that is behind the assassination hoax," said Xulu.

"If this is what newspaper ethics have sunken to... these journalists should be ashamed to call themselves watchdogs.

"We are saddened by the cavalier way in which this article was assembled and we call upon all journalists to distance themselves from such poor quality and sloppy journalism."

'Untruthful picture'

Xulu said that both he and Mbambo "reserved the right" to sue the newspaper.

Mbambo also said he took "exception to the way in which City Press paints an untruthful picture".

He denied outright paying Coetzee R2 000.

After reading out the statement, neither were prepared to answer any questions, saying "we are not prepared to interfere with a sensitive police investigation".

City Press editor Mathatha Tsedu could not immediately be reached for comment.

Police spokesperson Director Sally de Beer said on Monday evening that she was "not prepared to comment".

- SAPA