Johannesburg – Police Minister General Bheki Cele on Saturday said the security for former President Jacob Zuma, whose motorcade was crashed into by a suspected drunk driver, was adequate and on par with other former heads of state.
The collision happened in Eshowe, KwaZulu-Natal, along the R66 on Thursday, (28 March 2024) at about 18:40.
Speculation about the cause of the collision was heightened as it occurred soon after the Electoral Commission of SA told reporters that former president Zuma was not eligible to stand in the May 29 general elections because he had been convicted and sentenced to more than a year in jail.
In June 2021, South Africa’s apex court found Zuma guilty of contempt of court and sentenced him to 15 months in prison.
On Friday, police said they had arrested a 51-year-old man in connection with the collision involving Zuma’s motorcade.
The yet-to-be-identified man’s motor vehicle collided with former President Zuma’s official armoured state vehicle.
At the time of the collision, former President Zuma was in the vehicle with his protectors.
The police said no one was injured in the crash.
“The former President was evacuated and taken to his residence,” the police said.
Although the former president was not hurt in the crash, his uMkhonto weSizwe party (MK) blamed Police Minister General Bheki Cele for the crash.
Commenting on the matter on Saturday, Police Ministry Spokesperson Lirandzu Themba said the Police Minister General Bheki was “satisfied that the current security deployed for the protection of Mr. Zuma is sufficient and is on par with other former heads of state.
“The ministry finds the call made by uMkhonto weSizwe party for the minister of police to be questioned on Jacob Zuma’s security detail reckless and out of order.
“The ministry and the SAPS [SA Police Service] will not be divulging any security details of any current or former heads of state.”
Themba also revealed that the arrested 51-year-old driver’s blood samples had been taken for further testing and police investigations were continuing.
The arrested driver is expected to appear in court on Tuesday. He faces charges of driving under the influence of alcohol as well as reckless and negligent driving.
