Pretoria - Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa has dismissed reports that he was asked to help arrange protection for the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) Secretary General, Irvin Jim.
"For the record, Minister Mthethwa has previously and publicly stated that he does not get involved in any security assessments, irrespective of whether they are politicians, union representatives or any citizen of the Republic," the Police Ministry said.
Such assessments are operational matters conducted by SAPS Crime Intelligence.
"The minister would never influence nor interfere in any such decisions on who gets granted protection or who does not," it added.
The ministry said Mthethwa had not met with NUMSA to discuss VIP Protection for Jim, adding that a letter from NUMSA requesting a meeting with the minister was only received on 12 August, after the reports were published.
The minister's acceptance would be informed by the nature of the request for the meeting, it added.
