Two senior intelligence officials, accused of having placed ANC businessman Saki Macozoma under surveillance, have been suspended, The Star newspaper reported on Friday.
Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils suspended National Intelligence Agency (NIA) deputy director-general Gibson Njenje and the agency’s general manager for counter intelligence, Bob Mhlanga.
Macozoma, a member of the ANC’s decision making National Executive Committee, has been punted as one of the heavyweights in President Thabo Mbeki’s inner circle, a body which could have a say in who becomes South Africa’s next leader in 2009.
Macozoma is said to be close to former National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) boss Bulelani Ngcuka.
Ngcuka was in charge of the NPA when Schabir Shaik, the friend and former financial advisor of axed deputy president Jacob Zuma’s was prosecuted for corruption.
Earlier this year Shaik was given a jail term for fraud and corruption. The Durban High Court found that he and Zuma had a ”corrupt” relationship.
Zuma was subsequently fired by Mbeki and was charged with corruption.
The Congress of SA Trade Unions, the SA Communist Party and the ANC Youth League, claim that Zuma was charged to block his chances of becoming the president.
The Star said Njenje and Mhlanga are alleged to have placed Macozoma under ”physical surveillance” without proper justification.
Kasrils referred the matter to the inspector-general of Intelligence, Zolile Ngcakani, after he received a complaint from Macozoma.
Through his chief executive, Imtiaz Faizel, Ngcakani declined to give details, except to say that the investigations were continuing.
”Complaints were received from a member of the public addressed to the minister regarding illegal conduct of intelligence,” Faizel said.
The newspaper said it had confirmed that Kasrils had ordered that the pair be suspended on Monday on the strength of the inspector general’s report.
Kasrils’ spokesperson, Lorna Daniels, said two NIA officials had been suspended, but refused to disclose their identities or give reasons for their suspensions.
”The minister confirms that two NIA officials have been suspended pending completion of due process,” said Daniels.
”The ministry is not prepared to comment at this stage on the nature of the investigation or reveal the identities of those suspended pending finalisation in the matter.”
NIA director general Bill Masethla was also reported to be in trouble after clashing with Kasrils for accusing the Scorpions of acting as agents for foreign intelligence.
Masethla made the accusations in a submission to the Khampepe Commission, an inquiry into the future of the Scorpions. – Sapa