South African police discover cameras spying on Mandela

Police have discovered two cameras spying on former president Nelson Madela, it was announced on Thursday. The two cameras, which were believed to be set up by certain Western news agencies, were found in a house in the village not far from Mandela's home in Qunu, the Eastern Cape, according to police spokesperson Mzukisi Fatyela. "The cameras were put there without the knowledge of the authorities," he said without identifying the agencies that put the cameras there. Both cameras had been removed, he said, adding that it is believed that other cameras are set up in the village.Earlier reports said that AP and Reuters have been using CCTV cameras to spy on Mandela's home in Qunu. Chieftainess Nokwanele Balizulu, who lives opposite Mandela's house, confirmed to The Times that she gave Reuters and AP news agencies permission to install cameras, but would not admit to being paid for having done so. In response to the report, AP spokesperson Paul Colford said "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." Colford added ''We had similar preparedness outside the Vatican ahead of Pope John Paul II's passing.''A police task team was sent to investigate the security breach.The Nelson Mandela Foundation refused to comment on the reports. "You'll have to call the police and the security agencies on that one," foundation spokesperson Sello Hatang said.Mansdela moved from Johannesburg to Qunu, where he was born, a few days before his 93rd birthday on July 18.