The Democratic Alliance on Sunday slammed the alleged interference in the appointment of the SAPS Crime Intelligence head.

DA MP Dianne Kohler Barnard said in a statement that Safety and Security Minister Nathi Mthethwa and his deputy Susan Shabangu must account for the alleged interference in the appointment of Mulangi Mphego.

The call comes after City Press reported on Sunday that Mthethwa and Shabangu allegedly "derailed" the appointment of Mphego, who is the current acting crime intelligence head, to the position.

Barnard said if the allegations were true that Mphego was considered unsuitable because Mthethwa and Shabangu wanted a candidate who will fulfil the mandate of the African National Congress then it was unacceptable.

She said it would appear that South Africa was witnessing "a full-scale assault" on the independence of key state institutions.

Barnard also pointed out that these allegations read together with the decision by President Kgalema Motlanthe to dismiss Advocate Vusi Pikoli from the office of National Director of Public Prosecutions were questionable.

She further made reference to reports that Muzi Mkhize, a former advocate for ANC President Jacob Zuma, was to be Pikoli's successor.

"These allegations point to the development of a clear trend in the ANC, wherein South Africa's key security institutions are being undermined in order to kow-tow to the needs of Jacob Zuma," Barnard said.

"The alleged interference poses a serious threat to our fledgling constitutional democracy," she said.

Adding that it was evidence of the lengths to which senior ANC leaders would go "to curry favour" with Zuma in the hopes that this will improve their chances of inclusion in the next possible cabinet.

"The Democratic Alliance will at the earliest opportunity call on both the safety and security minister and his deputy to appear before the portfolio committee in Parliament to account for their actions in this matter," Barnard said.