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I have today written to the Inspector General of Intelligence Advocate Faith Radebe, to request that an investigation be opened into the reported abuse of the intelligence services to fight factional battles within the ANC.

On Sunday, the Democratic Alliance (DA) wrote to the Minister of State Security, Siyabonga Cwele, requesting him to fully explain the controversy surrounding the alleged resignation of National Intelligence Agency head Gibson Njenje. The Minister has this week failed to appear before the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence to report on the impasse.

This week Minister Cwele assured President Zuma that he does not want the intelligence services to be abused. There is a strong sense that this is precisely what is happening. It is therefore imperative that the Inspector General investigate without delay.

We believe this investigation should focus on three key areas:
• The improper provision of security services, primarily the protection reportedly given to Sheryl Cwele, the wife of State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele, during her drug trafficking trial
• The politicization of the intelligence services, which has seen intelligence gathered for the purposes of fighting internal battles within the ANC, and the confusion regarding the reported resignation of Gibson Njenje
• The reported feeding of state security information to the ANC Youth League (ANCYL)

The Inspector General is mandated by the Intelligence Services Oversight Act (1994) to “receive and investigate complaints from members of the public and members of the Services on alleged maladministration, abuse of power; transgressions of the Constitution, laws and policies referred to in paragraph (a), corruption and improper enrichment of any person through an act or omission of any member.”

Adv Radebe’s office therefore possesses the necessary powers and authority to conduct a full investigation into the serious allegations of abuse that have reportedly taken place in the state intelligence services.

The crisis in the state intelligence services must be seen against the backdrop of the government’s failure to act on the recommendations of the 2008 Matthew’s Report, which emphasized the importance of reforming South Africa’s intelligence services. Specifically, the report recommended that greater control should be exerted over the involvement of the intelligence services in domestic political matters. Such recommendations are even more pertinent given current fears about the impact of the Protection of Information Bill on the hegemony of the intelligence services.

The intelligence services must be used to protect the security of the South African people, not the interests of political factions. It is of national importance that the Inspector General investigates those allegations which suggest that this is not currently the case.