Speaker, the DA is disappointed that the President has declined to establish an independent commission of inquiry into phone hacking. We are also surprised, because we have been reliably informed that the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development has already begun work on the terms of reference for such a commission.
In 2008 the DA leader, Helen Zille, met with then Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils after it became clear to her that her phone had been illegally tapped. Mr Kasrils memorably told her that, although there had been no formal instruction to intercept her communications, he could not guarantee that it was not taking place informally.
It turned out that the informal interceptions were not the work of rogue private investigators. In fact, a police officer overcome by her conscience contacted her to say that an intelligence nerve centre in Bishop Lavis was the place where tapes of her telephone conversations were being analysed and gave her details of these conversations to prove it.
In addition, a Mail & Guardian expos has shown that illegal phone hacking is being carried out by state security agencies, and it confirms what we have suspected for some time: Government agents are abusing their power to spy on individuals without permission from a judge, as required by law. Mr Speaker, will the President tell us what happened to the plans to establish a commission of inquiry? Has it been shelved? If so, what are the reasons? Thank you very much. [Applause.]