Jele 'hit from within'
2004-08-01 09:29
Johannesburg - The private Security Industry Regulatory Authority believes the assassination attempt on its council chairperson, Josiah Jele, who was SA's ambassador to the United Nations, was committed by "elements" from within the private security industry.
Vice-chairperson of the Private Security Industry Regulatory Council, Jenni Irish, said the crime was "perpetrated by elements within the security industry who do not want to see effective regulation of the security industry".
"Jele plays a crucial role in the regulation of the security industry and we believe that the attempt on his life is a result of his outstanding work in the regulation of the security industry. There have been many threats to both council members and staff belonging to the authority," she said.
"The Private Security Industry Regulatory Council was working closely with the police to bring the perpetrators to book," she said.
She said Jele was in a serious but stable condition in a intensive care unit at a Johannesburg hospital.
This was confirmed by police spokesperson Amanda Roestoff late on Saturday. She said Jele had been able to speak to the head of the serious and voilent crime unit, Senior Superintendent Maxwell Thango.
Roestoff said police were looking for a white Golf which was allegedly used as the getaway vehicle. "Two men were seen sitting inside the vehicle, while a third person waited outside Jele's residence and fired several shots at him," she said.
She was, however, unable to give details on Jele's condition but Irish said he had been operated on.
Seth Mogapi, the chief executive officer of the authority, told City Press on Saturday: "We received a death threat in the form of a fax calling for the resignation of specific people on Thurday morning. Jele's name was also on the list of those who would be killed if they do not resign with immediate effect. We have traced the fax to Sunnyside, Pretoria."
Police have been deployed to guard Jele's house. Jele is also under heavy police guard.
The attack against his life came on Thursday morning while he was reversing out of the drive of his Lombardy West house. Roestoff, said several shots were fired at him.
Jele was taken to hospital by his wife.
Roestoff said: "Jele and his family are under police protection. Although I cannot deny that a crime has been committed I cannot reveal any further details because of security concerns."
Jele's neighbour Doctor Raleano told City Press on Friday that he heard a number of gunshots on Thursday morning. "I was too scared to go out and see what was happening. My father went out to help Mr Jele, whose car had rolled against our wall. I did not see the people who tried to kill him but I heard that they were in a white Golf."
Raleano said he was surprised that someone would want to kill Jele "because he is a very nice person".
In a short interview with City Press on Friday at the hospital, Jele's daughter, Nokukhanya, said that she was confident her father would make a full recovery.
"My father will be fine. He is a very strong 74-year-old. He is in a stable condition and will be okay," Nokukhanya said.
Jele is a former member of the national executive committee of the ANC and the central committee and politburo of the SACP.