Cabinet never labelled July unrest an insurrection - Ndabeni-Abrahams
Small Business Development Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams says she cannot recall Cabinet discussing whether the July unrest was an in fact an insurrection.
She testified at the South African Human Rights Commission’s investigative hearings into the unrest.
“I doubt or I don’t recall that we went to that level. When the incident happened, others were in portfolio committees and there were urgent meetings, as cabinet we really tried to apply our minds on what could have been the root cause,” said Ndabeni-Abrahams.
At the time she was the minister of communications.
Members of the security cluster disagreed on the issue and whether to call the unrest an insurrection or mere criminal activities.
President Cyril Ramaphosa described the unrest as an attempted insurrection, while then State Security Minister Ayanda Dlolo and Defence minister Nosivwe Mapisa-Nqakula famously contradicted him.
Ndabeni-Abrahams told the SAHRC she was not part of the security cluster meetings as she was preoccupied with her own portfolio.
She however admitted to Cabinet ministers being uncomfortable with the mixed messaging.
Ndabani-Abrahams said a decision was taken to ensure that the spokesperson for Cabinet was the one responsible for speaking about the matter in public. She testified at the South African Human Rights Commission’s investigative hearings into the unrest.
“I doubt or I don’t recall that we went to that level. When the incident happened, others were in portfolio committees and there were urgent meetings, as cabinet we really tried to apply our minds on what could have been the root cause,” said Ndabeni-Abrahams.
At the time she was the minister of communications.
Members of the security cluster disagreed on the issue and whether to call the unrest an insurrection or mere criminal activities.
President Cyril Ramaphosa described the unrest as an attempted insurrection, while then State Security Minister Ayanda Dlolo and Defence minister Nosivwe Mapisa-Nqakula famously contradicted him.
Ndabeni-Abrahams told the SAHRC she was not part of the security cluster meetings as she was preoccupied with her own portfolio.
She, however admitted to Cabinet ministers being uncomfortable with the mixed messaging.
Ndabani-Abrahams said a decision was taken to ensure that the spokesperson for Cabinet was the one responsible for speaking about the matter in public.
