Is the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s life in danger?
The South African National Defence Force is currently probing a man who has managed to infiltrate their ranks. The man was pretending to be a soldier and has been active on numerous army bases for years. He is currently detained.
He was arrested after he attempted to get himself into the infantry group that was to accompany President Cyril Ramaphosa during his inauguration last week at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.
The arrested and attempted infiltration raised fears of a plan to assassinate President Cyril Ramaphosa.
We have established that a high-level investigation into the infiltration of the defence force has been ongoing for weeks.
“If he could get away with it for years, how many other ghost soldiers are out there, and what are they doing?” said a source close to the probe.
According to Rapport’s sources, the police are searching for two more suspects. Investigators are probing whether the man is part of a “larger plan” that Rapport says could even include a plot to assassinate Ramaphosa or other high-level government officials.
Brigadier General Mafi Mgobozi, a spokesperson for the defence force, confirms that a multi-agency investigation is underway.
“There are others who are still being investigated for their involvement in a broader plan, but we cannot reveal further information at this point. Any further information we release at this point could compromise the investigation.”
Mr Thapelo Mokgosi(29) was arrested trying to infiltrate the inauguration ceremony.
Mr Mokgosi regularly sent his family photos of himself in SANDF regalia, often ‘on duty’ with other soldiers at various military bases.
Mr Mokgosi’s brother claims that he had left the house on a daily bases in uniform, often disappearing for long periods of time. His bank statements disclosed that he did not receive an emolument for his efforts, calling into question his motive for his actions.
Captain Shane Southgate the adjutant and a company commander of 21 SAI, was already apprehended and appeared in military court twice. Shane Southgate allegedly ordered a clerk to clear the pseudo-soldier for the ceremony.
Mr Mokgosi has already appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on charges that he falsely presented himself as a soldier, as well as on charges of the illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Rapport’s investigation revealed that Mokgosi indicated on his CV that he has been a soldier in the defense force since 2009, and his job description is protection services he gives the name of Captain Jacob Sebolai as his ‘commander’.
Mr Sebolai told Rapport that he knows Mokgosi and gave him an application form to join the defense force many years ago. Sebolai said he had no idea why Mokgosi would claim that he was his commander. He also sent them a photo of himself on duty during the funeral of struggle icon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in April last year
RELATED: Economists eyes on Ramaphosa, the man Mandela wanted
Leave a Reply