An unemployment lobby group on Wednesday said it is not involved in blowing up automated teller machines (ATMs), but only encourages those without jobs to do so.
”It is ordinary members of the unemployed who are encouraged by Icemusa to continue with the blastings, not only of ATMs, but of all other business and government establishments such as power stations,” said Plaatjie Mashego, leader of the International Campaign for the Establishment of a Ministry for the Unemployed in South Africa (Icemusa).
He was responding to an article in Monday’s Sowetan newspaper, in which it was reported that ”his organisation was responsible for the ATM blasts that have rocked the country in recent months”.
He said about 23 members of a group that Icemusa represents — the Malamulela Social Movement — had gone to Swaziland illegally to be trained on the use and safety of explosives.
According to Mashego, crime is the only weapon available to the unemployed to draw attention to their plight. ”It is a tool among the many others that Icemusa would continue to embrace in order to render both government and business unmanageable.”
Police spokesperson Superintendent Ronnie Naidoo said they had taken note of the allegations and that the organised crime unit was investigating. ”If they find something, they will take action. We take all allegations seriously.” — Sapa