The Cabinet says the suspension of three top intelligence officials was not related to party politics and did not represent ”some settling of scores in relation to party-political issues”.
In a statement after the regular Cabinet meeting held in Cape Town on Wednesday, government spokesperson Joel Netshitenzhe said the Cabinet noted the action of the Minister of Intelligence, Ronnie Kasrils, last week in suspending three senior members of the National Intelligence Agency ”on the basis of preliminary findings of an investigation by the inspector general”.
The meeting noted that the investigations, which are continuing, are being dealt with ”strictly in terms of provisions of the Constitution and relevant legislation”.
The suspension of the three — intelligence chief Billy Masetlha; his deputy, Gibson Njenje; and counter-intelligence chief Bob Mhlanga — followed the alleged stakeout of politician-turned-businessman Saki Macozoma.
Referring to media reports that have given the story a political spin — with reference to Macozoma being seen to be part of President Thabo Mbeki’s faction in the African National Congress — Netshitenze said: ”It is critical that discourse around this issue, as with the decision by the president last June on the position of the deputy president [Jacob Zuma], is informed first and foremost by the fundamental principle of rule of law, which is one of the sacred pillars or our democracy.”
Zuma was dismissed as deputy president in the wake of him facing charges of corruption.
Netshitenze said the executive — the Cabinet — is duty-bound ”always to ensure that the conduct of public servants is in accordance with the letter and spirit of our statutes”.
”Failure to observe this principle would constitute not only serious dereliction of duty but also encouragement of lawlessness in our body politic,” said Netshitenzhe.
”At the same time, it should be emphasised that employment in the public service, including security agencies, is not premised on party-political affiliation or any such loyalties. Rather, whatever political preferences public servants may have … what is expected of them is to observe the law and operate in accordance with government policy and regulations guiding professional conduct.”
Asked at a media briefing how the Cabinet has determined the matter not to be political, he said: ”There is a particular incident that happened that was brought to the attention of the relevant institutions of government. On the basis of that complaint an investigation was conducted. We are not talking here about any major trends.”
He said that if it had been a businessperson or a worker ”or a Catholic” who had alerted the government to the issue, the government would have taken similar action and the matter would have been investigated.
”The rule of law … this is what guides the operation of this government; if that ever collapsed, then our democracy is in danger.” — I-Net Bridge