A man has been arrested for allegedly circulating an email claiming high ranking officials and politicians wanted to assassinate President Jacob Zuma, the Hawks said on Tuesday.
"The Hawks have arrested a man who is believed to be behind the email which claimed that the life of the President Jacob Zuma was in danger," Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said.
Mulaudzi said Ernest Nkosi, 26, allegedly sent the emails to the spokesperson of the minister of police, the spokesperson of the Gauteng government, the Crime Intelligence Divisional Commissioner, as well as car dealership BMW South Africa.
"Nkosi wrote in his emails that there was a vehicle whose seat was poisoned and that the poison was aimed at the state president.
"He further claimed that members of the SAPS VIP Protection Unit, members of the Hawks, as well as certain ministers and parliamentarians were involved in the plot to kill President Zuma," said Mulaudzi.
Nkosi also allegedly sent threatening SMSes to prominent individuals, including high profile officials in various departments, with the latest victim being the chief of defence intelligence.
"The Hawks took the threats very seriously and an investigation was launched and Nkosi was arrested inside a library in Sharpeville," Mulaudzi said.
"Nkosi appeared before the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Monday and was referred to a psychiatrist at Weskoppies Hospital in Pretoria West."
Nkosi was charged with Contravening Section 26(1)(a) of the Intelligence Services Act. He allegedly impersonated a State Security Agency official and called himself Dr Ernest Nkosi.
He was also charged with fraud for using a cellphone number RICA'd under another person's name.
Nkosi would be back in court again on March 7.
Man arrested for bogus email about plot to assassinate Zuma
"The Hawks have arrested a man who is believed to be behind the email which claimed that the life of the President Jacob Zuma was in danger," Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said.
Mulaudzi said Ernest Nkosi, 26, allegedly sent the emails to the spokesperson of the minister of police, the spokesperson of the Gauteng government, the Crime Intelligence Divisional Commissioner, as well as car dealership BMW South Africa.
"Nkosi wrote in his emails that there was a vehicle whose seat was poisoned and that the poison was aimed at the state president.
"He further claimed that members of the SAPS VIP Protection Unit, members of the Hawks, as well as certain ministers and parliamentarians were involved in the plot to kill President Zuma," said Mulaudzi.
Nkosi also allegedly sent threatening SMSes to prominent individuals, including high profile officials in various departments, with the latest victim being the chief of defence intelligence.
"The Hawks took the threats very seriously and an investigation was launched and Nkosi was arrested inside a library in Sharpeville," Mulaudzi said.
"Nkosi appeared before the Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Monday and was referred to a psychiatrist at Weskoppies Hospital in Pretoria West."
Nkosi was charged with Contravening Section 26(1)(a) of the Intelligence Services Act. He allegedly impersonated a State Security Agency official and called himself Dr Ernest Nkosi.
He was also charged with fraud for using a cellphone number RICA'd under another person's name.
Nkosi would be back in court again on March 7.
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