Two ministers and a deputy minister were held hostage on Thursday night at the St George’s Hotel in Centurion in Gauteng.
They were the Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele, Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Thandi Modise and her Deputy, Thabang Makwetla.
The ministers were held by military veterans who allegedly demanded over R4 million each, housing, medical aid and bursaries for their children.
The hostage drama lasted for two hours before police special forces intervened.
National police spokesperson Brigadier Vish Naidoo says a total of 56 people, including seven women, were arrested for kidnapping.
He says a further three people were injured and taken to hospital for medical checks; however, he didn’t elaborate on the nature of their injuries.
Minister in the Presidency, Mr Mondli Gungubele gives an account of the incident which occurred at St George's Hotel earlier this evening during a meeting between the Presidential Task Team on Matters of Military Veterans and Military Veterans. pic.twitter.com/RYcNq5Pwbf
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