Crime Intel

DA says SSA using resources to target Zuma’s enemies

The Da says that allegations of a covert unit that reports only to the president and State Security Minister, David Mahlobo, must urgently be investigated.

The Democratic Alliance wants the Inspector-General of Intelligence, Dr Setlhomamaru Isaac Dintwe, to investigate allegations that the State Security Agency is abusing resources to target opponents of President Jacob Zuma.

DA Chief Whip John Steenhuisen, in a statement released on Friday, says that reports of a covert unit that reports only to the president and Minister of State Security, David Mahlobo, must urgently be investigated.

According to the media reports, this covert unit has been funded by the theft of R17 million, in foreign currency, from the SSA's headquarters in December 2015.

The reports also allege a link between other thefts at key democratic institutions, including the theft of 50 laptops containing sensitive information from the Department of Defence's Intelligence headquarters in December 2015, 15 computers containing confidential information on South Africa's judges taken from the Office of the Chief Justice in March 2017, and in July 2017, computers stolen from the Hawks headquarters and two laptops from the NPA's offices.

The party has also called on the Intelligence Services Oversight Act, Act No 40 of 1994 to be reviewed, saying that more accountability is needed as the allegations prove that the SSA has been given too much free-reign.

Steenhuisen has called on the ministry to be reeled in to perform the function it was created to for, which is fight terrorism and organised crime, and not "illegally conduct surveillance and intercept calls and emails of public officials."

"The SSA must be brought back into line and the loopholes through which Zuma and his cronies abuse these resources shut down by introducing the requisite measures through legislation," Steenhuisen said.