African National Congress spokesperson, Pule Mabe, says the governing party hopes for a solution to challenges facing military veterans as they are ‘part of ANC history’.
He was reacting to Thursday night’s hostage situation at St George’s Hotel in Irene, south of Pretoria, where a crowd of Military veterans held hostage Defence Minister, Thandi Modise, her deputy Thabang Makwetla and Minister in the Presidency, Mondli Gungubele.
The three officials were locked in at the hotel after the two parties couldn’t agree on how to proceed with the planned meeting.
The veterans have been protesting against government’s failure to pay them their reparations.
Mabe has called for negotiations.
He says: “Engagement is key to finding a solution to the problem. Government is always open and is willing to negotiate with the military veterans. The military veterans should never be sidelined or forgotten because they are part and parcel of the ANC’s history.”
Intervention by security forces saw the three ministers released and 56 people arrested.
VIDEO: SABC News Reporter, Samkele Maseko, outside the St. George’s Hotel in Irene in the aftermath of the violence that ensued when army veterans held Defence Minister, Thandi Modise and two other officials hostage #MinistersHostage #SANDF #sabcnews pic.twitter.com/WWzoSIuSSb
— SABC News (@SABCNews) October 14, 2021
Minister in the Presidency, Gungubele, who was one of the hostages, called the incident untenable and illegal.
Minister in the Presidency, Mr Mondli Gungubele gives an account of the incident which occurred at St George’s Hotel earlier this evening during a meeting between the Presidential Task Team on Matters of Military Veterans and Military Veterans. pic.twitter.com/RYcNq5Pwbf
— Presidency | South Africa ?? (@PresidencyZA) October 14, 2021