Issued by: Ministry for Intelligence Service
PRESS RELEASE
OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY MINISTER FOR INTELLIGENCE SERVICE
21 February 1996 - 09h00
The Deputy Minister for Intelligence Services has taken note of reports accusing the intelligence community of illegally intercepting domestic telephone calls and fax communications.
As stated in the reports the position regarding domestic interception is governed by the Intelligence and Monitoring Prohibition Act of 1994. The intelligence community is perfectly aware of the fact that interceptions have to adhere to the requirement of the Act, and has obtained legal advice from senior counsel regarding the way in which the Act should be applied. We are satisfied that what is happening with regard to domestic interception is legal.
The new, democratically elected Parliament has, by adopting legislation regarding intelligence, ensured that intelligence gathering activity will be strictly monitored by a number of civilian "watchdogs", of which the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Intelligence is but one. The Committee comprises of representatives of all parliamentary political parties, and has recently visited the facility referred to in the newspaper report.
The intelligence would like to request Spectrum to submit proof it may have of any unlawful interceptions to the abovementioned Parliamentary Committee or to the Inspector-General once he or she is appointed.
During a recent meeting between senior representatives of Independent Newspapers and the Deputy Minister for Intelligence Services the value of interceptions as a lawful method of intelligence gathering was explained to the former. The meeting took place at the request of the Deputy Minister in a new spirit of dialogue and openness which is now pervading the civilian intelligence community. The Heads of the National Intelligence Agency and the South African Secret Service were present and available for questioning and discussion.
Technical intelligence gathering is an accepted method used by sophisticated countries throughout the world including most liberal Western democracies. The use of the method in South Africa will always be solely directed against the enemies of the State and against those who are acting against the laws and the Constitution of the country.
Contact : Willem Theron Tel (012) 317 5068