Ivor Powell Shopping for spies in recent months, defence intelligence operatives have not concentrated their recruiting efforts only on political journalists. They have also tried to bring what its editor describes as a Ofeel-good travel magazineO into the espionage fold. This intelligence comes in the wake of revelations this week that Adrian Hadland, political editor of the Cape Argus, was approached twice last month to serve as an agent of the Oovert liaisonO section of defence intelligence. He refused the offer and promptly blew the whistle. David Bristow, editor of Getaway magazine, confirmed that Defence Intelligence agent Carien Pieterse approached him in early July seeking to make a deal the same operative who approached Hadland. OShe said sheOd approached us because we travel a lot in African countries,O Bristow said. OShe wanted us to report back on infrastructure roads and bridges and the like in the countries we visited. OMs Pieterse also asked us to report back on the happiness factor what the mood of the populace was, whether people were contented, that sort of thing. I suppose they thought they could get information on what countries were likely to get into war situations.O
In the event, though, Bristow says he told Pieterse in two words and no uncertain terms what to do. OI told her that whichever way you looked at it, what she was asking us to do was spy for the government. What happened to the independence of the media in a democracy? I wanted to know.O Bristow noted that the fact that in any given month, Oseven or eight people working on Getaway stories would be travelling through AfricaO, making it a less bizarre target than it would at first appear. He said there was the implication that Defence Intelligence would be prepared to help Getaway with transport and other logistics in exchange for information. The attempted recruitment of journalists to defence intelligence came to light this week in a strongly worded statement released by the South African National EditorsO Forum after it had been apprised of HadlandOs experience. Information and analysis supplied by journalists was apparently to be used in briefing decision-makers. According to Pieterse, the whole deal was above board. Hadland said Pieterse had indicated to him that a number of journalists were already on the books and that especially in Pretoria a number of senior journalists had agreed to pass on information to the cloak- and-dagger brigade. In exhange the journalists were to get tip- offs from defence intelligence as well as invitations to select briefings by operatives on the inside. Attempts to contact Pieterse both on her cellphone and office number proved fruitless, with the one on message mode and the other unattended.