Parliament in fear as spooks move in

18 October 2015 - 02:05 By BABALO NDENZE and JAN-JAN JOUBERT
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A general view of the National Assembly.
A general view of the National Assembly.
Image: EPA/NIC BOTHMA

Parliament has launched an aggressive onslaught against its own staff in an attempt to root out spies and whistle-blowers.

The outrageous campaign - involving the State Security Agency and initiated by parliament's secretary, Gengezi Mgidlana - is the latest in a string of attempts to clamp down on officials.

In a series of meetings held this week, intelligence officers told parliamentary staff that certain NGOs, specifically Right2Know, were known to be agents working for foreign governments.

Nervous staff, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they had even been told to remove the batteries from their cellphones when meetings started.

Intelligence agents told the staff that two journalists - who they did not name but who were said to be members of the parliamentary press gallery - were spies, for the French and US governments.

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Parliamentary staff were also discouraged from being whistle-blowers as this, they were told, would undermine the institution.

Members of staff with dual citizenship were told that this may negatively affect their security clearance.

The meetings, held in small groups, were convened by the intelligence officers - who have been given an office in the parliamentary precinct - to explain why the re-vetting of staff had to be done.

Although the presentations were largely the same, small details differed from group to group.

SSA officials said they would not hesitate to screen communications such as WhatsApp, SMSes and e-mail.

The re-vetting process started with staff members being ordered to fill in security vetting forms known as Z204 forms.

The move is the latest in a series of events involving the tightening of security measures around parliament since President Jacob Zuma was prevented from addressing the house by EFF MPs last year.

Parliament reacted to the EFF's actions by recruiting more security personnel. MPs pushed for the changing of rules to allow for force to be used against those who disrupt proceedings.

Now, however, the focus of Mgidlana's attention appears to be his own colleagues - as well as NGOs and the media.

During presentations with parliamentary staff, SSA officials listed journalists as among the security threats facing South Africa.

"The media is seen as an enemy. They [SSA officials] say some media is working for foreign governments. They also feel that some members of the ANC in parliament are using managers to work against the ANC," said an official who attended a presentation.

The presentations were done by about five people each, some of whom were from the SSA. They are expected to conclude tomorrow.

"It consisted of overhead slides, speeches and off-the-cuff remarks, followed by questions. I started paying attention to the dreary presentations when a list of 'security threats' was put on to the screen," said one insider.

"It was mentioned that the SSA was considering security vetting all journalists in the parliamentary press gallery, and that a review panel for journalists was being considered," said the source.

"At another time, a long list of possible people and groupings involved in espionage was shown. Among them were listed the media and NGOs. The presenter specifically said the Right2Know Campaign was linked to espionage for a foreign country," said an official.

An official from a different department said briefings by intelligence officials were making staff "nervous".

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"They are also asking those who have dual citizenship to either renounce their citizenship or risk losing security clearance," said the official.

"We were never told the meetings were confidential, but at one point the SSA instructed us to remove the batteries from our mobile phones. When they were told we had iPhones, they seemed nonplussed."

At some briefings, staff pointed out that no one could be forced to undergo a lie detector test. The SSA people agreed.

"I had the feeling we were being groomed to believe that if we gave any information to the media, we would not be doing our duty as good citizens, but rather become fellow travellers with those who engage in espionage against the country," said another parliamentary staff member.

"We were made to understand that to share information was to undermine parliament as an institution. I had the feeling the concept of a transparent and open democracy was being shut down.

"There is much opposition to these securitisation steps, especially from the staff with higher qualifications. Some staff sections openly say they will refuse, but whether staff will have the guts and unity of purpose to refuse en masse remains to be seen."

SSA spokesman Brian Dube said he would "not be in a position to comment because I have not had sight of the presentation being referred to. But we've long confirmed that it is a part of our mandate to assist various government institutions and state entities."

Right2Know's Murray Hunter said the organisation was made up of ordinary South Africans who were in service to the constitutionally protected rights to freedom of expression and access to information.

"We are outraged, but not surprised, by the paranoia and utter disdain that the securocrats show for ordinary people and their organisations," said Hunter. "We have been called foreign proxies before, by former intelligence minister Siyabonga Cwele, as have unions like Numsa and Amcu, people's movements like Abahlali baseMjondolo and the Treatment Action Campaign, the Anti-Privatisation Forum, the Anti-Eviction Campaign and the Landless People's Movement.

"These accusations are dangerous and irresponsible, but, sadly, not new. We find the idea that we are 'in the service of the US government' laughable."

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Ralph Mathekga, a political analyst at the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection, said the developments were sinister but not surprising.

"We are moving towards a security state instead of an open democracy. It is aimed at creating a siege mentality of foreign powers just milling around trying to harm the country.

"It mainly happens because the ruling party's communication is broken. If you cannot square up because the Sunday Times asks you hard questions, it is better to look at your communication strategy rather than acting like this."

Tensions also ran high in parliament this week after five officials were frogmarched out of the precinct, some in tears, by the recently recruited security staff known as the "White Shirts".

Parliament this week took the odd decision to issue a pre-emptive press statement announcing the group's precautionary suspension for alleged irregularities in relation to the procurement of transport contracts.

"The suspensions bear no relevance to the guilt or innocence of the officials concerned and are aimed solely at facilitating speedy and fair investigation into the alleged irregularities," it said in a brief statement issued by spokesman Luzuko Jacobs.

ndenzeb@sundaytimes.co.za, joubertj@sundaytimes.co.za

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