07 Jul 2019

Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) director general, Brigadier Peter Magosi says President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi’s security is under threat.

Speaking to journalists on July 5, Brigadier Magosi said the President recently returned mid-air on his way to Maputo, Mozambique, where he was due to attend the 12th US-Africa Summit, following some suspected attacks on the presidential jet.

He said the DIS advised the President’s jet to return because they were on the ground in Maputo.

“I want to tell you that there is a real threat to the life of the President and we will never go into details because we do not want to get those who are behind this to know what we are doing, but we are watching them,” he said.

He urged journalists to put the issue to rest as investigations are ongoing.

He also stated that lately sinister things happened that threatened the President’s safety, whereby before his aircraft landed, there were rampant power cuts.

He said the DIS was also investigating a case in which some people were found in possession of fire arms in the vicinity of President’s official functions.

He said the security situation in the country had immensely shifted because there was influence from non-state actors who were fuelling instability within the country and the political landscape.

Brigadier Magosi said as much as it was visible that there were internal struggles within the country, they were severely perpetuated by the third forces from outside the country.

“There are two centres of power and people are divided.

That division on its own is wrong,” he said.

He however assured the nation that the intelligence services was on its toes and would do everything to ensure the President’s safety was not compromised.

On other issues, he encouraged media houses to report responsibly.

“You should bear in mind how much you are exposing in terms of security.

We expect you to write responsibly to build this nation,” he said. On other issues, Brigadier  Magosi said the Directorate of Intelligence and Security was working within the confines of its mandate of national security, including issues of stock theft and fighting corruption.

He said during his interaction with the public and other institutions, a major concern had been the spate of corruption, but assured the nation that perpetrators would be brought to book.

He said huge sums of public funds had been lost through flouting of public procurement and tendering processes and that the Directorate of Intelligence and Security was investigating several cases within ministries and parastatals to determine how they arrived at certain figures that raised eyebrows. ENDS