ActionSA expresses deep concern over South Africa’s intelligence failures; calls on those apprehended to be tried in SA

28 July 2024

ActionSA expresses our deep concern over domestic intelligence failures in South Africa over the past week, including the 95 Libyan nationals who were arrested for possible military training and the Mexican national who were arrested for a R2 billion drug manufacturing facility.

Over the past few weeks, I have highlighted how President Cyril Ramaphosa has, in his seven years, in office failed to reform the intelligence services as he repeatedly promised to do, and instead, key positions in our intelligence services remain unfilled while reforms to split the intelligence service into a foreign and domestic branch have yet to be implemented.

The fact that 95 Libyans were allowed to undergo military training and a drug manufacturing facility was permitted for many years highlights, again, the breakdown in intelligence services in South Africa.

As a party that respects the rule of law, ActionSA further expresses concerns over reports that those apprehended will be deported instead of facing trial in South Africa. We are adamant that South Africans deserve to know the truth, and therefore call on the South African government to force those arrested to stand trial in South Africa and face the full might of our law.

For us to reform our intelligence services, ActionSA believes the recommendations of the High-Level Report into The State Security Agency (SSA) should be implemented, an intelligence inspectorate be established and political interference in our intelligence be limited. This is essential to protect South Africans and fight the proliferation of criminal syndicates operating in the country.

It is possible to restore the rule of law in South Africa and to fix our country, but only if the grand coalition takes the necessary steps. It appears that the current government has simply been too scared to act to restore our intelligence service, but ActionSA is committed to maintain accountability to expose government failures.

South Africa cannot afford to ignore the concerns of the international community that our country harbours terrorist organisations that destabilises and threatens the safety of the entire world community. 

Issued by Herman Mashaba, President, ActionSA, 29 July 2024