Chairperson, let me begin by thanking all the members who gave us advice and made positive comments. We will definitely take them seriously. Let me also thank those who work with us in this committee, particularly our oversight bodies: Judge Khumalo, who is responsible for interception directions, the Auditor-General, Mr Nombembe, and the Inspector-General, Adv Radebe.
We would also like to express thanks for the continual interaction we have with the members of the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence and for the work they do in ensuring that we don't falter in this sphere of government. We particularly thank you, chairperson, and the members of the JSCI who work tirelessly to remind us of the course we must follow. We must also take this opportunity to thank our intelligence veterans. I saw some of them there at the back. They continue to assist us, volunteering their services and giving advice in order to enhance our activities.
We would also like to thank the members of our staff council. As you know, we don't have unions, only the staff council. They continue to work with our management to ensure that the conditions of service of our members are improved. I would also like to thank the Director-General, Ambassador Mzuvukile Maqetuka and his executive, Mr Gibson Njenje, who is sitting at the back. I thank those who support me in the Ministry, led by the chief of staff, Dr Mavhungu; our advisory team, led by Dr Sam Gulube, commonly known as "Dr Scientist Manifesto"; and Mr Thokozani Dlomo for his work in assisting me in the office.
I would like to agree with the chairperson of the committee that in dealing with this important challenge of developing our national security doctrine and our national security strategy, it will be important to engage all South Africans or stakeholders, because one thing that unites all of us is defending our young democracy.
In terms of the overimportance of the oversight structures, particularly the JSCI, the annual reports of the State Security Agency structures - in my recollection - were separate last year, but were tabled together with the financial statements to the JSCI. In my recollection, the reports of the Auditor-General and of the Inspector-General, which are critical oversight structures, were also tabled in the JSCI in the last financial year. Committee chairperson, please make sure that members get access to these reports, so that they can scrutinise them.
The hon Coetzee raised the issue of the figures of the budget and whether we should publish them, I will not confirm or deny those figures, but they sound very strange to me. They are not the figures which we presented to the JSCI. Again, chairperson, please invite the members to read the reports we table in your committee.
Regarding my attendance of JSCI meetings, it is true that my programme has been quite hectic this year, because we were supporting our foreign policy, led by Dico: the Department of International Relations and Co-operation, and the Presidency, particularly in resolving conflicts in Africa. That has put a strain on my side of things. I would like to assure the members that whenever I am invited by the JSCI, I always attend. I don't remember a single meeting the JSCI invited me to that I didn't attend.
Hon Koornhof, thank you for your inputs, and we welcome you to this environment. Let me also say that we miss the hon Shilowa because he played a very critical role. He had a very deep understanding of issues of national security. I hope we will see him soon. [Laughter.]
You raised the old issue of the dropping of the charges against the current President. Let me put it on record that those charges were dropped by the National Prosecuting Authority once they realised that those who were heading the Directorate of Special Operations committed crimes. Yes, there were tapes. They did commit crimes. The tapes were declassified. They are available. They were declassified and handed over to the National Prosecuting Authority.
What is of more concern to me, particularly from you as a Member of Parliament, is that you were very silent about the crime committed by those officials. That was a threat to our national security - where officials cook reports to the extent that we can send somebody to jail on false information. [Interjections.]
There has been a lot said about crime intelligence and issues between Mr Mdluli and the commissioner or the general of the police, to the extent that the integrity of our vetting system was being questioned.
I can assure you that our vetting system is intact, and that we are increasing our capacity. The vetting of the police is delegated to the SA Police Service's Crime Intelligence Division, and the vetting of the Defence Force is done by the Defence Intelligence Division of the SA National Defence Force. They work together with the domestic branch of the State Security Agency in ensuring that policies are adhered to.
I would like to say that, to my knowledge, those processes were done, but the vetting process is a dynamic one. You will remember that the crimes the person concerned was charged with were committed years ago. The investigations which were done initially cleared those people. A current investigation would then necessitate revetting those members. There is nothing wrong with our vetting process, because vetting is a dynamic process.
Hon Msimang, it is true that our resources are focusing on piracy. We are working with the Southern African Development Community to ensure that our eastern shores are protected from this scourge. But the fundamental issue to address this problem is the political situation inside Somalia. We need a democratic government which is respected by the people. We need democratic institutions that are developed in order that they are respected by the people. As South Africa, we are deploying resources to protect the waters. Our strategy also includes the engagement of the industry, because when it comes to some of those involved, it looks like we have to ensure that there are no incentives for people to assist or promote piracy. We are working with our countries in SADC, particularly Tanzania and Mozambique, and with islands in the region to uproot this scourge.
The hon member from the UDM talked about the importance of political neutrality. Other members asked if we continued to monitor others. We monitor those who are involved in unconstitutional or criminal activities. We will continue doing so because that is part of our mandate. But we do not and we have no intention to interfere in the domestic affairs of political parties. Yesterday I met the hon Holomisa, who reported on some incidents, and I'm glad about this as we agreed that this was a serious thing to us. We will encourage Adv Radebe, the Inspector-General, to look into that matter.
I am still awaiting an appointment with my friend the Premier of the Western Cape, who previously made some remarks as if we are also involved in the interference or monitoring of politicians. Our officials know that those who engage in such activities will be dealt with appropriately. But we are also encouraging political parties not to abuse the intelligence. When the tactical response teams have problems, it is very easy to blame the intelligence. We will co-operate where our officials are doing the wrong thing and, really, we will deal with those transgressions.
A lot of members commented that we must finalise the restructuring and make the appointments. Unfortunately, I have just received these confirmations. As you know, when it comes to some of the senior management, we have to consult the relevant authorities, particularly the Presidency.
I am pleased to announce that we have finalised the appointments of at least some of the key posts in senior management. Ms Nozuko Bam will be the Deputy Director-General in Domestic Intelligence in the domestic branch. Mr Moruti Nosi will be the Deputy Director-General in Counterintelligence in the domestic branch. Ms Joyce Mashele will be the Deputy Director-General in the Intelligence Management in the foreign branch. Ms Cindy Mhlambo will be Deputy Director-General in Collection, in the foreign branch.
Ms Yvonne Sethugi will be head of our Intelligence Academy. Ms Muvhango Lukhaimane will be the chairperson of the National Intelligence Council. Dr Kulube will continue assisting me in my office as an adviser, because he is responsible for jewel-used technologies, until we finalise the structures in consultation with the Minister of Defence and Military Veterans. Bob Mhlanga will continue being my adviser and my fire extinguisher, and he will be deployed where his assistance is needed.
Dennis Dlomo will also continue assisting us in our office. We will finalise some of these key appointments, particularly now that Sandy has gone back to the University of Pretoria, such as the Deputy Director- General of Corporate Services and the head of Nicoc - the National Intelligence Co-ordinating Committee. I have heard concerns from a member about the management of the national communication centre. I am in consultation with the director-general and the President to address that matter. I thank you very much. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.