Spy wars escalating

Prosecutors at the Gauteng North Director of Public Prosecutions in Pretoria, who are working on organised crime and murder cases, are the latest victims of what appears to be an espionage war.

Two prosecutors at the Gauteng North Director of Public Prosecutions (GNDPP) in Pretoria are the latest victims of what appears to be a spy war. According to the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) spokesperson, Luvuyo Mfaku, they were working on organised crime, murder and rape cases.

“Both these institutions should have very good security systems in place ... and how people break into these buildings without being detected is deeply concerning,” said Gareth Newham of the Institute for Security Studies.

“It suggests whoever is behind this is quite organised and may well be working with elements within the NPA and the Hawks.”

The burglaries have followed a troubling path – only select computers were taken in a string of break-ins. There have been no credible arrests as yet.

The first was at the Helen Suzman Foundation on March 31 last year, shortly before it dragged disgraced former Hawks boss Berning Ntlemeza to court.

The day after the North Gauteng High Court removed Ntlemeza from his post, the office of the chief justice was broken into and select computers with judges’ personal information were stolen.

On July 5, computers with information about irregular appointments allegedly made by Ntlemeza were stolen from the Hawks’ offices in Pretoria.

And then on Sunday night, the GNDPP was targeted.

Francis Antonie of the Helen Suzman Foundation said: “We launched action against Ntlemeza that week and on the Sunday, the break-in happened. I cannot say if he was involved but it was a wonderful coincidence. He’s gone now. However, the break-ins are not stopping.”

Newham laid the blame at President Jacob Zuma’s feet. “He’s the person who directly appoints the head of the police, who has direct control over what happens to the head of crime intelligence. The police minister appoints the head of the Hawks under the guidance of Cabinet. The president can certainly influence that.”

He added that not removing former head of police crime intelligence Richard Mdluli from the police as soon as possible was problematic.

“It’s very worrying ... there’s a group out there with the capacity to break into criminal justice agencies ... placing prosecutors and investigators under severe strain. Their details are now in the hands of criminals.”

Ntlemeza is “a close ally of Mdluli and we know from the courts Ntlemeza is a dishonourable and dishonest individual”, said Newham.