Former National Intelligence Agency (NIA) director general Billy Masetlha has accused the Inspector General of Intelligence (IGI), Zolile Ngcakani, of effectively conspiring with Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils to drive him out of his job.
Masetlha on Thursday pleaded not guilty to the charge that he had refused to provide information to Ngcakani during the investigation into whether the NIA’s surveillance of businessman Saki Macozoma was unlawful.
The trial started on Thursday in Pretoria.
In a statement submitted to the Hatfield Magistrate’s Court after pleading, Masetlha said the information Ngcakani asked for was not for the purposes of the investigation, but was intended to tarnish his name.
”It is denied that the IGI deemed the provision by the accused [Masetlha] of any information or intelligence necessary for the performance of his function. To the extent that the IGI sought such information or intelligence, he did so not for any lawful purpose but to further the unlawful scheme of the minister [Kasrils] to drive [Masetlha] from office and damage his public reputation.”
Masetlha was charged in October last year with contravening the Intelligence Services Oversight Act, after he allegedly failed to provide information needed by the IGI.
Kasrils tasked Ngcakani to investigate a number of NIA officials after Macozoma complained to the minister about the surveillance. Ngcakani, who took the stand as the state’s first witness, told the court that Masetlha had told him that he had information linking Macozoma to a foreign intelligence agency. But when he asked Masetlha to furnish him with that information, Masethla refused to provide it.
Ngacakani, who throughout the proceedings referred to Macozoma as ”the particular individual”, said the IGI subsequently proceeded with the investigations without Masetlha’s cooperation. ”The investigation revealed that the particular individual was placed under surveillance not because he was linked to foreign intelligence, but under project Avani.”
Project Avani was aimed at assessing and evaluating the effect the presidential succession debate was having on the political climate and stability of the country.
Ngcakani said in court that Masetlha launched project Avani without following proper procedures. He added that, among other things, his investigation found that Masetlha outsourced information technology expert Muzi Kunene to fabricate emails, which purported to be communication between top government and ANC officials in a plot to damage ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma.
President Thabo Mbeki fired Masetlha in March after details of the so-called hoax email scandal became public. Masethla is contesting his dismissal and has refused to vacate his government home until the matter is resolved.