Chairperson, hon Minister, members of the intelligence community, members of the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence, hon Members of Parliament, and ladies and gentlemen, intelligence is the area that is usually least understood by a lot of people, the reason being that it is by its nature exactly like that: not to be understood! [Laughter.] It is therefore not surprising that each and every individual has his or her own understanding of what intelligence is all about. My own understanding is that intelligence means "not telling"! [Laughter.] It means working underground. It means working like a "spook" - as they are, of course, called. When things go wrong, people usually ask where the intelligence was. Why didn't our intelligence pick it up? It is a genuine question, to be asked especially by a member of the civilian population who are, of course, ignorant of the operational side of intelligence.
The main objective of intelligence structures is not to arrest and convict perpetrators of illegal activities in this country. The main objective of these structures is to collect, evaluate, and disseminate information, especially information concerning all potential and actual enemies of the country, be they internal or external enemies. This information is then passed on to the relevant structures or organs, be they in the Defence Force or the Police Service, who then will use the information for arresting and convicting the perpetrators. It is very rare therefore to see, let alone know, who these operatives are.
How then do we determine the budget of a department like this? What happens if a situation arises where this department has added responsibilities because of a threatening situation having arisen? Maybe they should just get an open-ended budget where, every time they need funds, those funds are readily available, as long as they can account for them! [Laughter.] The same thing would apply to the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence. Does this committee have to go through all the processes of requesting funds for oversight if a matter needs immediate attending to? Sometimes these processes cause a delay and, in the meantime, things become worse. What are we actually then saying?
My suggestion is that this committee to some extent be treated differently, as it is indeed different. It was established by the Constitution. Well, I sometimes joke with my colleagues in the intelligence community when the intelligence operatives are awarded medals and certificates: Where do they hang these certificates, because we never see them in any of the houses that we usually visit? [Laughter.]
This short introduction was only to try to put the workings of intelligence in perspective. The Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence, unlike many other committees, was established by the Constitution of this country - the supreme law of this country. Amongst others, the following Acts always determine the objectives of this committee. I would like to mention them: the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa itself, the Intelligence Services Oversight Act, Act 40 of 1994, the Intelligence Services Act, Act 65 of 2002, and the Promotion of Access to Information Act, Act 2 of 2000.
With regard to the standing policies, I am not sure whether, after having listened to some of my colleagues' speeches, I should take these paragraphs out of my speech. The standing policies and the way the committee operates should serve as an example to the opposition in this House. The committee is never bogged down by party-political issues. We never introduce ourselves as members of parties. We work as one unit for the good and security of our country. After listening to some of the things that were said here today, can I put a question mark on them?
Whilst before the democratic dispensation intelligence agencies were used to maim, kill, arrest, and torture the majority of the people of this country and our neighbouring countries, in order to render them weak, we can today proudly say that ours is an Intelligence Service that is used to protect the country and its people, to protect the subregion and Africa as a whole, against crime, espionage, terrorism, and threats of violence, either within or outside the country.
The intelligence agencies were used to prevent a black government from taking over "die vaderland" [the motherland]. [Laughter.] I wouldn't, as a member of the ANC, call this a black government. Personally I would rather avoid saying that because, as I look around, especially within the ruling party, I see all national groups represented, unlike in the previous oppressive government, which was totally and exclusively white. Ours can therefore not be called a black government. It is a government of the people. [Interjections.] The Constitution of this country, in relation to governing principles of security services provides in section 198:
National security must reflect the resolve of South Africans, as individuals and as a nation, to live as equals, to live in peace and harmony, to be free from fear and want and to seek a better life.
The resolve to live in peace and harmony precludes any South African citizen from participating in armed conflict, nationally or internationally, except as provided for in terms of the Constitution or national legislation. ...
National security is subject to the authority of Parliament ...
Can I repeat that? [Interjections.] I quote:
(c) National security is subject to the authority of Parliament and the national executive.
Section 199(6) goes further to provide:
No member of any security service may obey a manifestly illegal order.
[Interjections.] Subsection (7) of section 199 provides:
Neither the security services, nor any of their members, may, in the performance of their functions -
a) prejudice a political party interest that is legitimate in terms of the Constitution; or
b) further, in a partisan manner, any interest of a political party.
Subsection (8) provides that:
To give effect to the principles of transparency and accountability, multi-party parliamentary committees must have oversight of all security services in a manner determined by national legislation or the rules and orders of Parliament.
It has become necessary, from time to time, to remind some people in this House of the principles and the morality that govern the workings of institutions and agencies that operate in this country. This is a lesson from the principles enshrined in the supreme law of this country. That is why I had to take a very long quote from the Constitution - especially because some of the opposition nowadays are complacent and deliberately forget to read this small book! [Interjections.] When they were still not sure of the direction which the country would be taking - that was when they were still hoarding tinned foods in preparation for a prolonged war with the ruling party! - they would read this little book, that is, the Constitution, like a Bible.
When it comes to the defence of our country, South Africa is in a unique situation where our defence and security forces and agencies can, without doubt, be said to represent the country as a whole.
In some countries the defence and security forces represent the ruling party. In South Africa we can proudly say that our security and intelligence structures are for the defence of the country's citizens as a whole, without any discrimination.
It would, however, not be fair of me not to say anything about the behaviour of the opposition when it comes to sensitive issues concerning the security of the country. The opposition expects to be given this type of information. Those who would like to know what intelligence does and how they do it, and where and when they do it, are asking for the impossible. Where in the world, let alone in the whole universe, have we ever seen or heard of such a thing happening?
Let me refer to the President's words, that some people tend to think that they are ruling this country. They must from time to time be reminded that it is the ANC that is in power here ... [Applause.] ... and we have no intention of relinquishing this power to anybody, especially the DA, in the coming century.
If we were to go according to the demands of the opposition, especially the DA but all of them actually, we would have the following situation. Firstly, if we talk about the IFP, they would need a federal republic. [Laughter.] The PAC would like us to drive the settlers into the sea! [Laughter.] The ACDP maybe would like us to ban the SACP and even arrest hon Nzimande! [Laughter.] I couldn't but find myself amazed by hon Swart in his speech in the debate on the Department of Home Affairs, when he was talking about Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, Brics. I listened very carefully. He mentioned all the countries that are involved in Brics, but could not get himself to mention Russia! [Laughter.] So he simply omitted it. [Laughter.] The UCDP would maybe like us to restore Bophuthatswana, which will never happen. [Laughter.] The DA would like us to discontinue building RDP houses, and maybe invade Zimbabwe! [Laughter.] They would like us to forget about our international duty of peacekeeping in Africa and the world over. The Azanian People's Organisation, Azapo, would like us to change the country's name to Azania. [Laughter.] Cope would like us to let them be the custodians of the Freedom Charter, which will never happen. [Laughter.]
The ANC definitely supports the Budget Vote. Thank you. [Applause.]