South Africa is not immune to security threats, President Jacob Zuma said in Pretoria on Thursday.
”These lead us to undertake a comprehensive review of legislation governing intelligence structures, ethics of work, quality of intelligence product and infrastructure required to be efficient,” Zuma said at an intelligence services day.
He said there were plans to improve the capacity of intelligence through an increase in spending on technical capacity and training.
Zuma said the intelligence community should strengthen the existing partnership with the police in fighting crime and elements of internal instability.
”One issue that must be prioritised is to look into the violence that has accompanied protests in communities.”
He said the right to peaceful and democratic protest was recognised by the Constitution and must be defended by the security agencies and all citizens.
”What worries us is the element of violence and destruction to property, we need to know why our people would choose to be violent instead of pursuing their rightful demands in a peaceful manner.”
He said the failure to detect these in some quarters was declared an ”intelligence failure”.
”We expect our services to timeously identify such threats,” he said pointing out the explosion of xenophobic attacks in 2008.
”Our detection mechanisms must be sharper and more effective and efficient, without intruding into the lives of citizens unnecessarily.”
Zuma said there was a need to emphasise the significance of early warning and the ability to adequately respond to unknown threats emanating internally or elsewhere in the world.
”The services must fine-tune and strengthen the analysis function in order to timeously, accurately and factually forewarn and advise decision makers — these are all critical responsibilities.”
He said the outbreak of a war in any part of the continent would affect and threaten the stability of the country.
”Our security and development is intertwined with the overall peace and security of the continent.”
Zuma, flanked by the State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele, unveiled a plaque naming the street leading to the intelligence headquarters after struggle icon Joe Nhlanhla.
He also laid a wreath at the wall of remembrance and planted a tree in the garden of remembrance.
The intelligence service day was conceived in 2002 as an annual ceremony to honour and reward intelligence offices who served the nation in silence.
”It is a token of appreciation from us towards them because they are never celebrated, either shown in pictures in newspapers or in television,” said Cwele.
He said the day was to remember the heroism and bravery of officers in the quest to defend and secure the nation.
”We give opportunity to officers to celebrate with their families and show them what keeps them away from home,” he said. — Sapa