Be wary of how alleged coup plot can be used‚ R2K warns

28 April 2017 - 19:07 By David Gernon
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Elvis Ramosebudi, a man who allegedly plotted to assassinate officials perceived as state capture beneficiaries made his first appearance in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court today.
Elvis Ramosebudi, a man who allegedly plotted to assassinate officials perceived as state capture beneficiaries made his first appearance in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court today.
Image: ALON SKUY/ THE TIMES

As more details emerge about the alleged coup plot to be carried out against prominent South Africans‚ a civil liberties organisation has warned citizens to remain wary of the state’s case against the supposed plotter.

The Right2Know Campaign (R2K) issued a statement Friday encouraging people to “engage critically” with the news of the extraordinary plan.

“We urge South Africans to ensure these events are not used cynically to justify greater power for the security services‚” the statement read.

  • State recommends ‘coup plotter’ undergo mental evaluationThe office of the district public prosecutor has recommended that Elvis Ramosebudi‚ the man accused of plotting a coup by mass assassination‚ should undergo mental evaluation. 

“We cannot ignore the possibility for state institutions to seize these events as an opportunity to create an artificial ‘security crisis’‚” R2K warned. “It is common in any situation for securocrats to generate a crisis to justify more power and influence‚ and a closing down of democratic space. The track record of the Hawks does not inspire confidence.”

On Wednesday‚ the Hawks arrested Elvis Ramasedbudi after intercepting communications related to possible assassinations tied to targets Ramasedbudi allegedly perceived as state capture beneficiaries.

R2K’s statement posits two main issues they say should be viewed carefully. The first is the names of the two structures Ramasedbudi has been linked two: “the Anti-State Capture Death Squad Alliance” and “the Anti-White Monopoly Capitalists Regime”.

  • IN FULL: The alleged 'coup plot' hit listA man has been arrested for seeking funding of an alleged coup plot targeting South African government leaders, including the president of the country. 

“It is not credible that genuine covert structures would be so descriptively named.” The second point was that a credible coup attempt was highly unlikely to involve “open efforts at fundraising”.

Ramasedbudi‚ appearing in public for the first time Friday morning after a brief meeting in Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court‚ faces a provisional charge of conspiracy to commit murder. The state also recommended he should undergo mental evaluation.

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