The Minister of South African Police Bheki Cele says more than 100 supporters of Jacob Zuma were armed with guns yesterday.
Yesterday several gunshots rung out just meters away from the home of former president at Nkandla in Northern Kwazulu-Natal.
Meanwhile, Bheki Cele was criticized by many people for not taking action against Zuma supporters.
Cele leapt to the defence of police officers who patrolled Nkandla over the weekend after scores of protesters lined up to defend Jacob Zuma at his sprawling homestead.
Cele further rubbished claims that police failed to act.
“Just because you don’t see us on TV, it doesn’t mean we are not there. We took good time in preparation of Nkandla.
“I want to congratulate the police for the way they behaved at Nkandla. There were more than 100 people coming from some hostels who were armed and were mingling within the people.
“Police knew that and had that information. They even tried to provoke the police by shooting those firearms in the air.
“There were many women and many children and police had to take a step back.”
If the police acted recklessly, blood would have been shed, Cele said.
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