Durban businessman Elias Khumalo on Monday confirmed that his house and offices had been raided by the police in connection with an alleged plot to assassinate African National Congress deputy president Jacob Zuma, the
South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) reported.
Khumalo was quoted as saying that police seized a laptop and a brown envelope during the raid in the presence of his lawyers.
He told the SABC that a man ”known to him as Ben Coetzee” had informed him and his associates of the alleged plot.
”I strongly believe what Ben Coetzee told us on the night of May 8 is either the truth or it has an element of truth … I am just disappointed in the way this matter has been turned around … as if we’re the culprits,” said Khumalo.
Coetzee, a beach vagrant, is reportedly cooperating with the police and has given them an extensive affidavit outlining how the hoax was put together.
Meanwhile, Khumalo has accused the police of trying to cover-up the alleged assassination plot. Khumalo says it seems the police have not taken the matter seriously.
Sally de Beer, the national police director and spokesperson, has refused to comment on the alleged assassination plot.
Attempts by the South African Press Association to contact Khumalo were unsuccessful.
Two weeks ago the City Press newspaper reported that the alleged assassination plot against Zuma was a hoax concocted by Pastor Peete Mbambo, Khumalo and Durban attorney Barnabas Xulu.
However, last week Mbambo and Xulu held a press conference slamming the City Press report.
Back to court
Meanwhile, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Zuma and French arms manufacturer Thint return to the Durban High Court on Tuesday.
The NPA will attempt to obtain an execution granting it permission to get documents from Mauritius about meetings believed to relate to Zuma’s role in the multibillion-rand arms deal.
In April the NPA obtained an order from the Durban High Court allowing it to seek the documents, which include the diary of former Thint chief executive Alain Thetard.
These documents allegedly prove that there were meetings held where Zuma, convicted Durban businessman Schabir Shaik and Thetard met to discuss a R500 000-a-year bribe.
However, both Thint and Zuma’s legal teams obtained leave to appeal against the issuing of the letter of authorisation granted by Judge Philip Levensohn.
Both Thint and Zuma are expected to oppose the execution order. – Sapa