NEWS & ANALYSIS

Zille calls for investigation into Lekota spying claims

Statement issued by the Democratic Alliance leader October 13 2008

President Motlanthe must investigate reports of ANC's abuse of the NIA

I have today written to President Motlanthe to request that he investigate reports in the media which suggest that the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) is conducting surveillance of ANC members thought to be planning a breakaway party. According to the report, this surveillance has been dubbed ‘Operation Nzimande'.

Using the NIA for internal political purposes is a serious abuse of power. It is unconscionable that state intelligence resources intended to protect the national interest be used to gather intelligence on behalf of a faction of the ANC.

When Kgalema Motlanthe accepted his election as President of the Republic he committed himself to upholding the Constitution and those institutions whose independence it guarantees. At my meeting with President Motlanthe on Friday, he gave me a firm undertaking that he would not allow institutions of state to be abused for political purposes. He also said that I should approach him directly with any issues of this nature that come to my attention.

President Motlanthe now has the chance to demonstrate the commitment he has shown by launching an urgent and independent investigation into these allegations which suggest that the NIA is spying on high profile ANC members in talks with Mosiuoa Lekota, as well as opposition parties which are supposedly linked to Lekota. The President has a unique opportunity to show that he will put the interests of the people before a faction of the ruling party.

The President has acquitted himself well since his inauguration and made all the right noises. If he does not consider this request and take immediate action, he may quickly lose the trust of many South Africans who believe that he can rise above the factionalism in his party and govern in the interest of all.

This is also an opportunity for the new Minister of Intelligence, Siyabonga Cwele, to demonstrate that he will not tolerate the abuse of the intelligence services. The DA's Spokesperson on Intelligence, Paul Swart MP, has today written to the Inspector-General of Intelligence asking him to investigate the allegations. Mr Swart has also written to the Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence to request that Minister Cwele and the Director-General of the NIA are brought before the Committee to explain these allegations.

The abuse of state machinery for political purposes helped the apartheid government to maintain its illegitimate regime. We cannot allow the same thing to happen in a democratic South Africa. The Democratic Alliance will pursue this matter until we have got to the truth and it is satisfactorily resolved.

Statement issued by Democratic Alliance leader, Helen Zille, October 13 2008