Parliament must remove Intelligence Committee Chair
The Democratic Alliance (DA) will be writing to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Max Sisulu, and the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), Johannes Mahlangu, requesting the removal of the Chairperson of the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence (JSCI), Cecil Burgess.
A report by Hawks detective Colonel Kobus Roelofse, addressed to the commander of the Anti-Corruption Task Team (ACTT) in March, indicates potential interference by Burgess in the investigation of Crime Intelligence Boss Richard Mdluli and its finance head Solly Lazarus.
The report reveals that Lazarus approached Burgess on several occasions "without notifying his acting divisional head of these visits" and that Lazarus was "trying to convince Burgess that this investigation compromises national security." A letter from Burgess subsequently stated that Major General Mark Hankel "must be removed from the investigation".
Roelofse further argues that "efforts to influence Burgess constitute interference with a criminal investigation", "compromise national security and if not investigated properly will have a lasting effect on the failure of the SAPS to combat crime".
The DA agrees, and would further submit that the conduct of Burgess could similarly be seen as interference in the investigation, which compromises national security.
The JSCI is a parliamentary committee tasked with oversight over the executive and the intelligence services. Mr Burgess clearly overstepped the boundaries by believing he could issue instructions to Crime Intelligence, and in the process potentially contributed to obstructing the ends of justice.
Mr Burgess has potentially violated his oath to uphold the Constitution and the laws of the Republic, which renders him unfit to chair a committee with such a pivotal role to play in terms of the national security of South Africa and its citizens.
It is therefore imperative that Parliament act in order to restore the integrity of the JSCI and the credibility of any ongoing or future investigations into Crime Intelligence, Richard Mdluli or Solly Lazarus.
Statement issued by Watty Watson MP, Chief Whip of the Democratic Alliance, May 20 2012
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