STEVEN MANN, Cape Town | Monday 11.15am
THE Democratic Party’s claims that its offices were bugged have been referred to the head of detective services in the Western Cape, Commissioner Andre du Toit, for investigation.
Police spokesman Faizel Kader said on Monday Du Toit would make arrangements to take a statement on the charges from DP chairman Douglas Gibson.
Party spokesman Phillip Grobbler said affidavits would be handed over to the police on either Monday or Tuesday and criminal charges would be laid in terms of the Interception and Monitoring Prohibition Act.
Earlier Gibson said the case was to be given national priority and that he was to be contacted by the office of the Gauteng provincial commissioner to lay charges. “The office of the provincial commissioner in Gauteng, where I now am because the parliamentary session is over, will be contacting me to arrange a meeting at which time formal charges will be laid,” Gibson said.
On Friday the DP claimed that an independent security consultant had found the party’s parliamentary offices and national headquarters were under 24-hour electronic surveillance.
The consultant’s report will form part of the affidavit to be handed over to the police.
Meanwhile, DP leader Tony Leon says South Africa’s intelligence services are “out of control”.
The Sunday Times reported that the camera was part of an operation aimed at countering the recruitment of South Africans by German intelligence.