MINISTER OF STATE SECURITY MUST EXPLAIN HOW R50 MILLION DISAPPEARED FROM ITS HQ

4 January 2015

Congress of the People is incensed that the state’s spy HQ, supposedly as safe as ten banks, had R50 million stolen from its safe on the third floor (see Sunday Times.

Why, in the first place, was such a massive amount of money kept on site when banks are readily available to accept such deposits? Was the R50 million sourced from the National Treasury and was it kept at its offices with its knowledge? If not, where did the money come from and where does accountability reside for holding such vast sums of money?

This theft is about the very worst advertisement for the State Security Agency. It also reflects very poorly on its agents, its security measures and the management as a whole. How would any insider, besides one or two persons, have knowledge that R50 million was in the safe?

Furthermore, what did the security cameras show? Who entered the premises after office hours? Why was no dye technology used to stain the money? How was the safe opened? If cutting tools were used, where were the security officials?

COPE wants answers from the Minister. This is not business as usual. This is a huge disaster for state security and a serious indictment of the ANC government.

The Minister must give the nation a proper explanation of how the R50 million disappeared.

Statement issued by Dennis Bloem, COPE spokesperson, 4 January 2015