PRESIDENT Thabo Mbeki will chair a new super cabinet committee which will “co-ordinate and monitor” everything related to national security. The inter-ministerial committee, to be known as the National Security Council, will be able to deal swiftly with security threats including natural disasters, regional conflicts and internal instability, government spokesman Joel Netshitenzhe said after the fortnightly cabinet meeting in Pretoria. The NSC would have to deal with “policy and strategic issues” and would function over and above the existing intelligence structures such as the National Disaster Management System, the cabinet committee on security and the National Intelligence Agency, Netshitenshe said. In addition to Mbeki and Deputy President Jacob Zuma, the ministers of safety and security, defence, intgelligence, foreign affairs, home affairs, justice and finace will have permanent seats on the council. Other ministers, including the ministers of trade and industry, welfare and correctional services, could be called in if the situation demands, he said.