DA warns ANC over leak

THE DA has threatened to take the ANC to court if it tries to remove any of its members from the joint standing committee on intelligence (JSCI).

This was after ANC chief whip Stone Sizani’s office yesterday called for the axing of three DA MPs who sit on the committee following the leaking of confidential information by President Jacob Zuma.

The war of words between the two parties followed weekend reports that Zuma had tried to force members of the JSCI to appoint ex-ANC MP Cecil Burgess to be the new inspector-general of intelligence.

This came after the ANC failed to secure a two-thirds majority in Parliament last year to get Burgess appointed to the top job.

DA chief whip John Steenhuisen said they would not allow the ANC to remove any of their members from the JSCI.

The ANC said the leaking of information of JSCI meetings and discussions was a serious breach of confidentiality.

Sizani’s spokesman Moloto Mothapo said they fully backed the JSCI’s decision to investigate the leaking of confidential information.

“We hope that such an investigation would be conducted swiftly to ensure that the DA MPs are removed from the committee,” said Mothapo.

‘Dont remove any of our committee members’

But Steenhuisen said they would fight any attempts to remove any of their members from the committee.

He said if there were people to be removed from the JSCI, it was ANC MPs who supported Burgess.

“I am not going to stand by and allow an undue process to appoint an unworthy person like Mr Burgess,” said Steenhuisen.

He added it was clear that Sizani had got his priorities wrong.

Steenhuisen warned the ANC against attempts to remove DA members from the JSCI.

He said the DA would take the ANC to court if it tried to remove their members from the committee.

The DA chief whip said they could not be told by anyone who to appoint to be a member of the committee.

The JSCI said early this week it was investigating members who leaked information to the media.

It admitted that it had asked to have a meeting with Zuma, and it would have such meetings with any cabinet member, as required by the Intelligence Oversight Act.

The committee also said it was malicious to suggest that Zuma tried to influence its members to appoint Burgess.

This was based on the fact that a decision had already been taken.

It added that in terms of the Joint Rules and Intelligence Oversight Act of 1994, all meetings of the committee are closed.

“As such, its discussions remain confidential,” said the committee.