Chairperson, as I indicated in my response to the previous question, it is part and parcel of how we process these matters to ensure that where there are allegations of criminal misconduct we not only discipline people who work for us, but also lay criminal charges against them. This happens whether or not they have left the department.
As to whether we ourselves will prosecute those individuals, well, we don't prosecute. It is the Department of Justice, and in particular the Office of the National Director of Public Prosecutions, that prosecutes those individuals. It makes no difference whether they have left our department or not. One assumes that in the normal course of events the National Director of Public Prosecutions will continue with those criminal processes.
Surveillance by State Security Agency and National Intelligence Agency of those who are opposed to Protection of State Information Bill and details relating to nature of surveillance
30. Mr R A Lees (DA) asked the Minister of State Security:
(1) Whether any (a) civil society groups, (b) organisations and (c) persons have been placed under surveillance by the (i) State Security Agency and/or (ii) National Intelligence Agency as a result of their opposition to the Protection of State Information Bill [B 6 - 2010]; if so, (aa) what were the reasons for the surveillance and (bb) what form is the surveillance taking;
(2) whether any telephone lines are being tapped during this surveillance; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details? CO82E