The point I am making is that working in the intelligence community is a serious and responsible business. There is no country in the world that tolerates the behaviour of traitors, information peddlers and rogue agents. In the three United States cases that I have referred to, all the perpetrators avoided death sentences by pleading guilty, and today remain imprisoned, without the prospect of parole. This indicates the seriousness with which democratic countries take matters of intelligence.
I repeat that intelligence matters are serious. We must not allow a few rogues and traitors to set the agenda of our national security. I appeal to the House and the nation to let the oversight structures do their work, and to wait for the results ... [Interjections.] Then we will be informed by legitimate processes on what the true situation is.
I think it is appropriate, at this stage, to acknowledge the efforts of three of our top intelligence leaders who have left the State Security Agency, SSA ... [Interjections.] ... Ambassador Jeff Maqetuka, the former Director-General of the SSA, Ambassador Mo Shaik, former head of the foreign branch of the SSA, and Gibson Njenje, the former head of the domestic branch of the SSA. Unfortunately, they have all recently left the SSA and their experience in the field of intelligence will be sadly missed.
My colleagues, the hon members of the committee ... [Interjections.] ... from the National Assembly will be dealing with other matters. You will hear from them concerning matters over which the committee has jurisdiction, and they will also address the question of defence intelligence.
At this stage I want to thank all those from the intelligence community who have come here today to listen to us, and we hope that the assurances that I have given them from the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence, JSCI, will be taken to heart, and that they will know that the JSCI, together with its partners in the oversight business, will be doing its work to make sure that we look into matters that concern the nation. There is no need for people to be nervous, scared and frantic. These things will be dealt with and the truth will be made known. Thank you. [Interjections.] [Applause.]