Mthethwa weighs in on Nkandla images

President Jacob Zuma's homestead at Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal. Photo: Bongiwe Mchunu

President Jacob Zuma's homestead at Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal. Photo: Bongiwe Mchunu

Published Nov 25, 2013

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Johannesburg - Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa on Monday dismissed allegations that the security cluster of ministers was suppressing the media over Nkandla.

“There wouldn't be any suppression of the media. I think some people in the media are playing dumb,” he said at a breakfast briefing in Midrand hosted by The New Age newspaper.

The minister said pictures of President Jacob Zuma's private Nkandla homestead in KwaZulu-Natal had been in the media for some time.

“You can't come now and say people shouldn't take pictures.”

He said they were against the media overstepping the mark and disclosing security features of the president's home.

“You will never find that anywhere in the world. We are saying it cannot be done in South Africa, even in your oldest democracy such things are not done.”

Mthethwa said even visitors to the US White House in Washington saw only what security allowed them to see.

Several newspapers printed photographs of the Nkandla residence on Friday after a warning by State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele that it was illegal to do so.

Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) acting CEO Phumla Williams said publishing security features of Nkandla could obviously pose a threat and risk to the personal safety of the head of state.

She urged the media to take a responsible stance by not publishing “any security features of National Key Points” that could compromise national safety. - Sapa

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