The inspector-general for intelligence will be asked to investigate whether a "fake intelligence report" was behind the instruction for Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan to cancel his investor roadshow.
On Thursday, DA MP David Maynier said President Jacob Zuma appeared to have issued the instruction on the basis of an "intelligence report claiming that the finance minister would be holding secret meetings with people in the UK and the US to discuss overthrowing the state as part of Operation Check Mate".
The former head of the University of SA’s department of police practice, Setlhomamaru Dintwe, was recently confirmed as the new inspector-general for intelligence, filling a post that had been vacant for several months.
Zuma abruptly instructed Gordhan to return home from London on Monday‚ almost immediately causing speculation of an imminent Cabinet reshuffle.
So far, Zuma has been silent about his reasons for cancelling the roadshow.
"This is by far the most bizarre explanation for the bizarre instruction and is exactly the kind of rubbish that one would expect President Vladimir Putin to dream up and have published in Pravda‚" said Maynier.
"The fact is that nobody in their right mind would believe the finance minister would participate in secret meetings with the intention of overthrowing the state."
He said Zuma and his inner circle of securocrats were "so prone to conspiracy and so clueless about international finance that we cannot be sure‚ mad as it may seem‚ that the bizarre instruction was not based on a fake intelligence report about a fake intelligence operation‚ comically called ‘Operation Check Mate’."
TMG Digital
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.