President assigns political responsibility for Intelligence Services to Minister in The Presidency

17 January 2022 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has, in terms of Section 209(2) of the Constitution, designated Minister in The Presidency Mondli Gungubele to assume political responsibility for the control and direction of the State Security Agency.

This is in line with his announcement of 5 August 2021 that the Ministry of State Security would be done away with and political responsibility for the State Security Agency would reside in The Presidency.

Section 209(2) of the Constitution, which addresses governance of intelligence services, empowers the President to assume political responsibility for intelligence services other than those of the police or national defence force, or to designate a member of Cabinet to assume this responsibility.

The President has assigned responsibility for the State Security Agency to Minister Gungubele, who is a Cabinet member, while Deputy Minister Zizi Kodwa continues to serve as Deputy Minister.

Issued by Tyrone Seale, Acting Spokesperson to the President, 17 January 2022