Still no inspector-general of intelligence decided on

THE future of the new inspectorof intelligence hangs in the balance after months of stalling in Parliament over backing for the ANC candidate for the top job in the world of spooks.

The ANC endorsed its exMP Cecil Burgess for the position, but his appointment fell through because of insufficient numbers in Parliament to support him.

The inspector-general must receive a two-thirds majority for him to be appointed.

The ANC said yesterday the matter remained on the agenda of Parliament, but did not settle on the new date.

It said there was still a lot of work to be done with other parties to reach consensus on the candidate.

Burgess was an ANC MP for a number of years and he chaired key committees in Parliament during his tenure.

One was the ad hoc committee on the Protection of State of Information Bill. The committee was processing this controversial bill, dubbed the Secrecy Bill.

The bill has remained on President Jacob Zuma’s desk for more than a year since parties objected to its approval and urged Zuma not to sign it into law.

ANC chief whip Stone Sizani’s spokesman, Moloto Mothapo, said there was still no consensus on the candidate for the position.

The position has been vacant since March this year when Faith Radebe’s term came to an end.

Mothapo said it was difficult to know whether the matter would be back on the agenda before the end of the year.

“There is still a lot of work to be done, there still needs to be consensus on the candidate among political parties,” he said.