Independent IGI needed to stop spooks haunting Parliament

ANC Chief Whip, Stone Sizani's reported attempts to lobby minority parties in Parliament to help the ANC appoint Cecil Burgess – the architect of the 'Secrecy Bill' and a “whitewashed” report on “Nkandlagate” – as  Inspector-General of Intelligence (IGI) are misplaced and beyond his mandate.

As the last line of defence between the rule of law and the rogue spooks lurking in Crime Intelligence, Defence Intelligence and the State Security Agency (SSA), the IGI is required to be impartial, independent and to perform their functions without fear or favour. Burgess, however, has a proven track record of not being impartial, of not being independent, and of performing his duties with favour, and indeed fervour, for the ruling party and President Jacob Zuma.

Earlier this year Sizane was forced to withdraw Burgess' nomination because he could not muster the support of two-thirds of the members of the National Assembly. The DA believes that it is time to seriously consider amending the relevant legislation to provide that the IGI be a retired judge who would serve the office impartially and independently. This would also prohibit the recent back-alley lobbying, cadre deployment and political interference we have witnessed within the IGI’s office.

South Africa’s been without an IGI for months now and in that time we have witnessed an increased amount of SSA activity on the Parliamentary precinct. Earlier this year there was the signal-jamming incident during the State of the Nation Address and just this week reports surfaced that the SSA has been vetting, questioning and intimidating Parliament staff members in an attempt to plug perceived information leaks .

It is high time Parliament finalises the IGI appointment and ensures that it is done in transparent matter that leads to the appointment of an impartial candidate that will prioritise the principles of Constitution and keep these pesky spooks out of South Africa’s independent institutions.

Issued by John Steenhuisen, DA Chief Whip, 12 October 2015