Cyril’s probe welcomed
REVIEW PANEL TO CONDUCT INVESTIGATION
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of a review panel to look into South Africa’s intelligence services has been roundly welcomed, with political analysts calling for a focus on the extent to which the country’s intelligence and security apparatus has been infiltrated and compromised by those with nefarious goals.
During his second question-and-answer session in the National Assembly yesterday, Ramaphosa said: “We are deeply concerned about allegations of corruption and other acts of wrongdoing in terms of our intelligence services.”
In response to a question from Congress of the People leader Mosiuoa Lekota regarding the alleged rot within state security, Ramaphosa said a review panel would probe the structure of the State Security Agency (SSA), its mandate, systems and capability.
“They will be able to go to the depth of some of the shortcomings, some of the challenges and problems that this agency faces. It will go into the mandate of the intelligence service as per our constitution and it will go into its capability.”
Both the SSA and the police’s crime intelligence have been beset by allegations of corruption, political interference and other acts of wrongdoing in recent years.
“I mean, ask yourself the extent to which the intelligence agency is riddled with organised crimes and how it is implicated. We see reports coming out, we read that book called The President’s Keepers. I don’t think one would say they must go and investigate everything, but really at this point, their reputation is in a shambles,” political analyst Ralph Mathekga told The Citizen.
“There’s allegations of abuses of funds and neglecting of responsibilities. They are not in a position to protect us. The gangs seem to be running the Western Cape. You really have to ask yourself about the state of the intelligence agency and whether it is in a position where it serves the nation.”
DA leader Mmusi Maimane, questioned how serious Ramaphosa’s commitment was to cleaning up government in light of his decision to move former SSA director-general Arthur Fraser to the department of correctional services.
Fraser faced a court application from the Inspector-General of intelligence, alleging that Fraser had been obstructing the functioning of his office to prevent investigation of serious allegations against Fraser.
Ramaphosa would not be drawn on divulging his reasons for not summarily dismissing Fraser, first citing the pending DA court challenge to his decision and then simply saying matters regarding the SSA were very sensitive.
But Mathekga did not buy this explanation.
“Him saying it is at a ‘sensitive’ stage is just a diplomatic use of language because he doesn’t want to pre-empt the investigation.
“He doesn’t want to show that he’s on the side that says things are bad. The intelligence agency is in a bad state and reports are out there. It’s not about things being sensitive, it’s about things being horrible.”
Mathekga said the removal of Fraser from the agency was a clear indication that things were very bad and it created the opportunity for the public to understand what really happened.
“It is the first indication that there is a willingness to investigate. It is a positive step but it does not mean the job is done. We can’t celebrate yet. Let’s see if there will be a meaningful inquiry,” he said. –