Vote 8: National Treasury (Intelligence)
Extended Public Committee

Speech by Mr M J Bhengu MP
 

25 May 2007  

Chairperson,

For National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and South African Secret Services (SASS) to maximise their internal work and provide critical and unique intelligence to government and the country as a whole, the total budget of R2, 5 billion, which is about 16% more than last year, is, in our view, justifiable.

The IFP supports the allocations as it is clearly in our national and international interest to have well-resourced services that are able to carry out their mandates.

Chairperson,

The rise of global terrorism over the last decade and a half presents most nation states that are not a direct party or participant in the source conflicts with a difficult intelligence and security dilemma. For countries that are directly involved such as the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan the situation is clear. Such countries are targets for global terrorist attacks and their security services can therefore act knowing that attacks are imminent or being planned.

However, a country such as South Africa that is not involved in a source conflict finds itself in a more difficult position. Any threat from global terrorism is mostly of an indirect nature where the country could be used as a transit point for operatives, a financial haven or clearing-house, a training base or as a hiding place.

That of course does not mean that our intelligence services can be any less vigilant because even indirect threats have the potential to hurt a country's national interest as well as its standing in the global community. One could even speculate that it is often easier for intelligence services to act when a threat is clear and present, as opposed to dealing with an indirect threat.

In fact, it is very important that our intelligence services gather as much information on potential threats, including terrorists, so that government can make the correct decisions to protect the national interest.

A big part of the so-called fight against global terrorism is international co-operation between governments and intelligence services. It is of course in South Africa's interest that our intelligence services co-operate where possible with Foreign Intelligence Services and where it suits our strategic objectives.

At the same time it should be recognised that Foreign Intelligence Services will co-operate with South Africa if it suits their countries and their strategic objectives. We should therefore remain vigilant that we do not give more than we get out of co-operation.

Another trap to be avoided at all costs is breaking domestic and international law in the interests of international co-operation and building partnerships with foreign governments.

I am not suggesting that our security services have been guilty of such transgressions, but there certainly seems to be some potential for doing so and for violating human rights if a Foreign Intelligence Service requested it. We should take particular care that any requests for assistance from outside do not go beyond the boundaries set by our Constitution and the law.

Chairperson,

All intelligence services in the world engage in some or another form of covert action to achieve their objectives. This is no different in South Africa and we recognise that such actions are necessary to obtain accurate and timeous information about threats to the national security and interest.

Covert activities or operations cost money; sometimes very large sums are involved. Herein lies a danger for our intelligence services. Because of the very secret nature of these operations it is difficult to account for covert spending and as such potential exists for fraud and corruption or misappropriation of funds.

It is extremely difficult to audit covert funds, and National Treasury cannot really assist in this regard. The Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence can request information about covert funds but again the situation is not perfect. However, the IFP would propose that a mechanism be created by National Treasury to maintain proper account of covert spending, but at the same time that mechanism should not jeopardise the covert activities.

Finally, Chairperson

Finally, there is a need to constantly check that crime syndicates or terrorists do not use the Department of Home Affairs for their nefarious objectives. Reports that large numbers of blank passports were found in the United Kingdom, is clearly indicative of the fact that the Department represents a risky element in the South African security system.

We certainly hope that the National Intelligence Agency is keeping a very close watch on the Department to ensure that South African official documents do not fall into the wrong hands and are used to assist terrorists thereby severely embarrassing our country and hurting its international image.

The IFP will support the Intelligence vote.

Thank you.