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The failure by law enforcement agencies to expedite the capture and prosecution of the failed July insurrection could potentially be the reason why there is a coordinated attempt to target Eskom electricity infrastructure and collapse the economy.

Attacking the country’s critical infrastructure is a direct threat to the country’s national security. It is for this reason that the DA is calling on the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) to convene as a matter of urgency and come up with an operational plan to address this growing threat of national infrastructure sabotage.

In July of this year, a DA ‘connect the dots’ statement made the case that a crippling cyberattack on Transnet’s IT infrastructure was an act of sabotage potentially carried out by the perpetrators of the insurrection.

As part of their plan to bring the country to its knees, the insurrectionists first targeted Durban’s major transport artery, the N3. Their intention was clearly meant to disrupt supply chains, cause food shortages and whip up public anger.

Having got away with these blatant acts of terrorism, all indications are that the insurrectionists have now set their sights on vulnerable Eskom infrastructure. Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter recently revealed that a deliberate attack on Lethabo power station, which is considered as one of South Africa’s most reliable, could have plunged the nation into stage 6 loadshedding.

These are not random acts of criminality but a coordinated effort that has its origins in the perpetrators of the July insurrection, some of whom are alleged to be disgruntled elements in the ANC’s factional wars. Law enforcement authorities have an obligation to uphold the law and bring these dangerous perpetrators to book without fear or favour.

Issued by DA Shadow Minister of Public Enterprises Ghaleb Cachalia