BACKGROUND ON ILLEGAL BUGGING AGAINST SENIOR SAPS

Issued by: Ministry of Intelligence Services

PRESS STATEMENT FOR MEDIA CONFERENCE 22 FEBRUARY 1996

BACKGROUND ON THE REPORT TO NICOC ON THE INVSTIGATION TO ALLEGATIONS OF ILLEGAL ELECTRONIC INTERCEPTION AND PHYSICAL SURVEILLANCE DIRECTED AGAINST THE SENIOR MANAGEMENT OF THE SAPS.

The National Intelligence Co-ordinating Committee (NICOC) instructed on 12 January 1996 an investigation into allegations of illegal electronic interception and physical surveillance directed against the senior management of the SA Police Service.

The investigation committee appointed consisted of a representative each from NIA, SASS, SAPS and the SANDF.

This investigation was concluded on 31 January 1996 ad a reprt was submitted to NICOC. Subsequently the President, Mr MANDELA, the Cabinet Committee on Security and Intelligence, as well as the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence were briefed on the investigation done by the NICOC appointed investigation committee and its findings.

The investigation revolved around various media reportage which culminated in six cases being investigated.

These six cases are:

• Superintendent G J OOSTHUIZEN: Secretary of the SAPS Management Forum.

OOSTHUIZEN alleged that a Telkom Technician, after finding that there had been a fault on his home telephone line, told him that his telephone had been tapped.

• Mr Dirk COETZEE (NIA) versus Superintendent H T MOODLEY (SAPS)

Supt MOODLEY interviewed COETZEE in his official line of duty during which it was alleged that Mr COETZEE had said that he was given the task to investigate National Commissioner FIVAZ and other members of the top management of SAPS.

• Provincial Commissioner D S MAHARAJ: Gauteng

Prov Comm MAHARAJ reported to National Commissioner FIVAZ that wires had been found in his office which could have been used for technical surveillance. Some media reports stated that bugs were found in the office telephone of Prov Comm MAHARAJ.

• Provincial Commissioner M J BALOYI: Northern Province

It was alleged that bugs were found in the office of the Provincial Commissioner of the Northern Province, Comm M J BALOYI.

• Provincial Commissioner G M BEZUIDENHOUT (Eastern Cape) and Provincial Commissioner AT MEIRING (North West)

It was reported by the Media that National Commissioner FIVAZ was also aware of two other Provincial Commissioners having reported surveillance by unknown agents.

The investigation process was based on the following:

• Thorough studying of the allegatons/ accusations as reported in the media.
• Interviews with individuals involved, and investigation at various locations.
• Photographing of site and equipment where the alleged bugging has taken place.
• Establishing the existence of possible exhibits.
• Collecting of applicable statements and press releases.
• Graphic representations of floorplans of some of the respective sites.

The investigation committee has come to the following overall conclusions:

• The allegation that NIA is spying on Commissioner FIVAZ as well as senior police officers is totally false. The allegations by the media was not factually founded but rested on a deduction that because Mr Dirk COETZEE was employed by NIA, he collected information on police members in an official capacity. Supt MOODLEY's report to National Commissioner FIVAZ also stated it as fact that COETZEE was given the task - meaning he had been ordered - to collect information on the SAPS, while he later conceded to the investigation committee that Mr COETZEE could have said that he (COETZEE) had a task to collect information on members of the SAPS - meaning a self-imposed task.
• It can be concluded that at no time did Comm FIVAZ or any other Commissioner make mention of NIA in the context as indicated in the media, that NIA is involved in illegal spying.
• Although evidence was obtained of the presence of listening devices, the conclusion that these were connected to any sinister undertones are been ruled out. The devices that were located, had been officially installed by previous occupants of the offices of Provincial Commissioner MAHARAJ and Provincial Commissioner BALOYI.
• The underlying reason for the bugging saga becoming the issue that it has, is ascribed to the following:
• Misinterpretation of communications between SAPS technicians and provincial commissioners.
• Superficial reporting on alleged surveillance by Provincial Commissioners to the National Commissioner.
• The non-investigation by the SAPS of bugging allegations in order to ascertain the true circumstances of facts. Should timeous investigations have been implemented at the time, the facts arrived at by the investigation committee would have been forthcoming and subsequently would have pre-empted statements made by the National Commissioner to the Press and reportage by the media.

Issued by the Ministry of Intelligence Services

22 February 1996