SOUTH AFRICAN security officials have accused news agencies of setting up hidden cameras to spy on former president Nelson Mandela at his rural home in the Eastern Cape province.
According to local newspaper reports, earlier this week a special police task team was dispatched to the village where Mr Mandela was born to attend to what a local chief described as a “breach of security and a safety risk” connected to the Nobel Peace Prize winner.
A little under six months ago Mr Mandela (93) returned to his home village of Qunu and has stayed there since.
On Monday a police task team headed by Brig Gary McClaren met local chiefs and a VIP unit commander, Capt Sipika, who is responsible for security around Mr Mandela’s home, to discuss the security threat.
At least two CCTV cameras belonging to British-owned Reuters news agency and US-owned Associated Press (AP) were found to have been set up in a house owned by Chieftainess Nokwanele Balizulu, located directly opposite Mr Mandela’s home.
South Africa's Timesnewspaper reported that Mr McClaren was adamant that the cameras should be removed as they were not only violating Mr Mandela's privacy, but also breaking the law.
“This was a security risk for uTata [Mandela’s tribal name] and we could not allow it to continue. What they [AP and Reuters] are doing is not right. They should leave him in peace,” the source said.
It is understood one of the hidden surveillance cameras was set up near Mr Mandela’s home at least six years ago, while another was placed there in the past few months.
“So far we’ve managed to recover two cameras in a house in the village not far from Mr Mandela’s house,” police spokesman Mzukisi Fatyela said yesterday. “The cameras were put there without the knowledge of his family or the authorities.” Both cameras, he said, were removed on Monday but authorities “strongly believe” there are others set up in the village.
Chieftainess Nokwanele Balizulu confirmed that news agencies used her homestead to set up their surveillance equipment, but she refused to confirm or deny if she was paid money for the use of her property. “I agreed to having those cameras there, but I’m not going to say anything else,” she said.
On Wednesday night AP spokesman Paul Colford reportedly told the Times: "They are not surveillance cameras. Along with other media, the AP has preparedness around Mr Mandela's eventual passing. The AP cameras were not switched on and would only be used in the event of a major news story involving the former president.
“We had similar preparedness outside the Vatican ahead of Pope John Paul II’s passing,” he was quoted as saying.
Concerns over Mr Mandela’s health have increased over the past year. He fell seriously ill last January and was in hospital in Johannesburg for three days.
His funeral would attract huge local and international media coverage, with some organisations already jockeying for prime broadcasting positions around Qunu, where it is believed Mr Mandela’s remains will be laid to rest.