Judge Meyer Joffe ruled on Tuesday that national security will not be compromised if the former coordinator of intelligence, Barry Gilder, gives evidence in the Jackie Selebi corruption trial.
Joffe, however, ruled that Gilder should testify in camera and journalists were ordered to leave the courtroom.
In his ruling, Joffe dismissed concerns of State Security Minister Siyabonga Cwele and his director general, Jeff Maqetuka, that Gilder’s evidence about a draft intelligence estimate will compromise South Africa’s intelligence processes, methods or sources.
Drug dealer Glenn Agliotti earlier testified that Selebi allegedly showed him an intelligence document in which it was mentioned that the Kebble family paid Selebi.
The information found its way into a draft intelligence estimate, but Gilder subsequently apologised to Selebi and the information was excluded from the final estimate.
Both the state and Selebi’s defence agreed that the proceeding should be held behind closed doors.