A political stalemate between the African National Congress (ANC) and the three largest opposition parties means that no one is monitoring the legality of South Africa’s intelligence operatives due to delays in the appointment of a new inspector-general of intelligence. This means complaints against South African security agents for alleged illegal conduct are piling up‚ sources have confirmed.The position has been vacant since March‚ when the term of the incumbent‚ Faith Radebe‚ expired.A two-thirds majority vote in the National Assembly is required for a new inspector-general to be appointed‚ and the diminished number of ANC MPs since last year’s election means it is more dependent than ever on opposition buy-in to get its preferred candidate into the position.But its preferred candidate is Cecil Burgess‚ a former ANC MP whom the Democratic Alliance (DA)‚ Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) have resolved not to support because he shepherded the notorious Protection of State Information Bill‚ widely derided as the Secrecy Bill‚ through Parliament.Frustrated with the process‚ DA chief whip John Steenhuisen has broken his silence to divulge that State Security Minister David Mahlobo has been trying to get opposition parties to agree to appoint Burgess. This has been confirmed by sources in other opposition parties‚ who prefer to remain annonymous.The DA and EFF are implacably opposed to appointing Burgess‚ and the IFP national council – its highest decision-making body - has taken a similar decision.This means it will not be possible for the IFP parliamentary caucus to unilaterally change the party’s stance should the ANC offer an IFP MP parliamentary patronage‚ for instance a house chairmanship.Burgess earned the ire of the IFP because of his harsh treatment of the late MP Mario Oriani-Ambrosini‚ who was like a son to IFP leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi.Steenhuisen says some members of Parliament’s joint standing committee on intelligence‚ which generally meet behind closed doors‚ even felt that President Jacob Zuma was leaning on them to favour Burgess during a recent meeting between the president and the committee‚ but no-one blinked‚ leaving the position vacant.He added the DA will never support Burgess.“He is a toadying‚ executive-minded individual whose characteristics are the exact opposite of what is required for the position. One needs an independent-minded individual who would not view these issues through Luthuli House-coloured lenses‚” Steenhuisen said.Mahlobo’s spokesman‚ Brian Dube‚ said that the office of the inspector-general continued to exist‚ but was suffering limitations without an accounting officer.He said he was unaware of any lobbying efforts by Mahlobo on Burgess’behalf‚ and that the issue needed to be solved by Parliament.But parliamentary joint standing committee on intelligence chairperson Connie September could not be reached for comment on when the vacancy would be filled‚ and both the toll-free and listed numbers for the office of the inspector-general just rang when called.At least two complainants against alleged actions by intelligence operatives have expressed concern at delays apparently caused by the absence of an inspector-general.Mpumalanga journalist Tom Nkosi says the office of the inspector-general told him they could not act on his complaint until the position of inspector-general was filled.Right2Know Campaign spokesman Murray Hunter said they were aware of several complaints dragging on in the absence of an inspector-general‚ including two the organisation themselves had filed.“We have a serious problem here. Staff at the inspector-general's office appear to be saying they can't complete investigations until Parliament appoints an inspector-general. But MPs have closed up shop for the year‚ without making that appointment.“We have no grievances with staff at the inspector-general’s office‚ but we need them to be empowered to do their job.We see evidence that spooks are running amok‚ and it feels like there's nobody at the wheel‚” Hunter said. – TMG Digital/Parliamentary Bureau..