Court must untangle the serpentine ways of spies

The Mozambique spitting cobra is one of Africa’s deadliest snakes. It is active when it is dark, aims its venom at its opponent’s eyes and eats other snakes, even dangerous ones. These characteristics lend themselves as a metaphor for the game of spy v spy being played out between spy chief Arthur Fraser and the inspector-general of intelligence, Setlhomamaru Dintwe. The State Security Agency provides intelligence to the government on threats to national security and the safety of citizens. But the nature of the work lends itself to abuse. The IGI is a statutory body that investigates alleged abuses in the SSA. It follows that the IGI needs to have security clearance to do the job.

Fraser is the director-general of the SSA and has been exposed for allegedly running a parallel intelligence network, known as the Principal Agent Network, whose agents report directly to him and whose reports do not always reach the agency. The network allegedly blew R1.5-billion of public money and employed members of Fraser’s family. It is also believed that Fraser gave Zuma the so-called spy tapes that let him off the hook on corruption charges (recently reinstated).

Dintwe, a former academic and police detective, was appointed IGI a year ago. He said then he would be a snake who eats other snakes. But Fraser got in an early strike this week when he withdrew Dintwe’s security clearance, thus stymying an investigation into abuses within PAN.

Dintwe has asked the courts to intervene, alleging obstruction and intimidation by Fraser. Journalists, whistleblowers, NGOs, civil servants, rival politicians and unionists are among those who may find themselves targets of illegal surveillance. The only office that stands between them and such abuse is that of the IGI.

In his affidavit Fraser insisted he was safeguarding national security when he revoked the clearance, and accused Dintwe of trying to reinvestigate claims probed by his successor four years ago. The case is expected to be heard in the coming week. But the serious allegations against Fraser provide a strong motive to cut off the investigation. He should not be allowed to defang the one person with the power to hold him to account.