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The Minister of State Security, Ayanda Dlodlo.
- State Security Minister Ayanda Dlodlo said she wanted to keep President Cyril Ramaphosa informed about the testimony at the Zondo Commission, and he knew it.
- Dlodlo said it was his duty to oversee intelligence matters.
- Zondo rejected Dlodlo’s attempt to postpone the procedure.
State Security Minister Ayanda Dlodlo said she kept President Cyril Ramaphosa informed, “for a matter of transparency, respect and courtesy,” when her legal team asked for a postponement in the Zondo Commission on Tuesday.
He also said he did not act maliciously or try to avoid testimony, by Acting Director General Loyiso Jafta, about corruption in the State Security Agency (SSA).
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Dlodlo, in a rare statement released by spokeswoman Mava Scott on Wednesday, said she initiated the request for a postponement to allow “a proper consultation process” between her and Jafta on the “commission’s procedures regarding community engagement. Intelligence”.
He said this would have enabled him to inform Ramaphosa about the SSA’s presentation to the commission “as a matter of courtesy and responsibility” and also to comply with the law.
Surveillance
Dlodlo said it was legally bound “to exercise the highest executive authority and supervision over all intelligence matters in the country.”
However, this would be “almost impossible” without information at his disposal, he said, referring to testimony prepared by Jafta.
She said:
“The minimum that I am entitled to is full disclosure of all intelligence information in the agency, so that I can exercise my custodial responsibility.”
Dlodlo said that this responsibility was in accordance with section 209 of the Constitution and section 12 of the Intelligence Services Act of 2002 (Act 65 of 2002).
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He had previously successfully requested the leniency of Supreme Court Vice President Raymond Zondo regarding the Inspector General’s testimony before the commission, “so it was neither malicious nor intended to thwart the commission’s work.”
“Work to rebuild and restore the agency’s credibility is underway, in accordance with the recommendations of the High Level Review Panel, and I cannot be the one to evade the efforts as some seem to suggest,” said Dlodlo, vowing to safeguard “matters of national security” and would put in place measures to combat corruption in the agency.
Dlodlo’s request to postpone the commission’s work on Tuesday was rejected, and Zondo said he had ample time to approach him with his concerns before Jafta’s scheduled appearance.
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Jafta testified that an investigation, following his appointment in 2018, revealed millions of rand wasted in previous years and assets worth R9 billion that could not be accounted for.
