We should be able to put forward the facts. The fact is that we are proud of the work the intelligence services of this country have done. [Interjections.] We are proud of the work they continue to do. Admittedly, we have agreed that, like the nature of the threats in the world that are becoming so complex, there are areas of improvement that we must attend to.
Among the areas of improvement ... [Interjections.] ... there are issues around the ability to use the recent technology so that we can deal with serious threats such as cyberspace threats and cyberterrorism.
We must also be able to deal with issues of economic intelligence because a number of issues speak to issues of the illicit economy. We must be able to deal with issues of terrorism, but it is not factually correct to try to compare the intelligence services of today and yesteryear. That could not be correct. [Interjections.]
We can assure South Africans that we will continue to discharge our responsibility to keep this country safe. We have done our utmost best, and we will continue to strive to ensure that all people, irrespective of their views, enjoy their right to safety, their right to privacy, and other rights that are enshrined in our Constitution. [Interjections.]
I want to say thank you very much to those who are doing well, in terms of improving some of those situations in our country.
Regarding the insinuation that we are the same - there are accountability systems. If a member feels that our actions are outside the law, there is recourse. You did pass an intelligence oversight Act here that creates a body to which to make referrals of our own misconduct if there are issues of misconduct.
Equally, the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence, comprising members of all parties, has a responsibility to call us. We will always come here gladly and answer their questions because they are the public representatives. [Interjections.] Thank you.
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