Parliament, Friday, 26 April 2024 – The Ad Hoc Committee on the General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill conducted the Free State leg of the public hearings at the Samson Sefuthi Hall in, Botshabelo in Bloemfontein. Approximately 415 residents attended the public hearing.
The committee received oral submissions that called for the appointment of a Deputy Chairperson of the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence (JSCI) as well as a Deputy Inspector-General of Intelligence (DIGI) to ensure the continuity of the work. Inputs also called for intelligence services to be separated into domestic and foreign intelligence with the ability to collaborate when necessary. Some residents deemed the establishment of the South African National Intelligence Academy crucial. There was also a call for the service to carefully consider all youths during the intake process. Members of the public also raised concerns about broader security issues faced by the community of Botshabelo and the surrounding areas.
Earlier this week, the committee received oral submissions from the Congress of the South African Trade Unions (COSATU), Intel Watch, Freedom of Religion South Africa (For SA), Mr Badesh Padayachy, Prof Jane Duncan and Mr Kgosi Motasi.
COSATU welcomed the revised Bill passed by the National Assembly (NA) and expressed overall support for it. However, it believes further provisions need to be included to strengthen the Bill. In particular, COSATU was of the view that the Bill should be tightened to ensure that the findings of the Inspector-General of Intelligence (IGI) are binding. It also believes that intelligence organisations should be held accountable for any remedial action that the IGI determines. By doing so, the Bill will be more effective in promoting transparency and accountability in the country's intelligence community.
Intel Watch told the committee that it believes the Bill does not sufficiently provide for the independence and powers of the IGI, the JSCI, and the Auditor-General to effectively oversee the intelligence services. Intel Watch also wants the JSCI to approve the intelligence budget based on sound knowledge of intelligence activities.
The organisation For SA noted the improvements made in the Bill currently being considered by the committee. These improvements included improved definitions and provisions, which they believe make the Bill more rational and practical.
Meanwhile, Mr Bavesh Padayachy called for the appointment of retired judges to exercise oversight over foreign bulk interception. He has also raised concerns that there is a lack of clarity on the surveillance scope of foreign bulk interception, which poses risks to individual rights.
Professor Jane Duncan welcomed the inclusion of matters that could not be considered by the NA Committee. Additionally, Prof Duncan emphasised the significance of the JSCI holding regular meetings with the President of the country to prevent any backlog in policy and legislative issues.
Public hearings on the Bill are currently underway. The committee will, on Sunday, 28 April 2024, hold its final public hearing in East London in the Eastern Cape.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON THE GENERAL INTELLIGENCE LAWS AMENDMENT BILL, MR KENNETH MMOIEMANG.
For media enquiries, please contact the committee’s Media Officer:
Name: Ms Faith Ndenze
Parliamentary Communication Services
Cell: 081 377 0686
Email: fndenze@parliament.gov.za
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