28/07/2007 18:31 - (SA)
Spies bent on chaos
Makhudu Sefara
A REPORT commissioned by the government claims that renegade intelligence operatives are colluding with people disgruntled with ANC rule to plant divisive documents meant to sow confusion and weaken the ANC and thus the state.
It also says that some of the people who concocted the discredited hoax emails, which alleged a massive conspiracy by senior government leaders to stop ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma from becoming president, are the same people behind what is being termed “The Special Browse Mole Consolidated Report” – another document making wild allegations.
These are the findings of an investigation by a joint task team made up of the National Intelligence Agency, The SA Secret Service (Sass), Military Intelligence and the SAPS Crime Intelligence released by Presidency director-general Frank Chikane at the Union Buildings yesterday.
The probe, Chikane said, had unearthed the identities of the people who contributed information that made up the Browse Report, and exposed their intentions and modus operandi.
Chikane was accompanied by Sass director-general Hilton Dennis, SAPS Commissioner Jackie Selebi and department of justice director-general Menzi Simelane.
He summed the findings thus: “The ANC is the target, the intention is to create conflict and weaken the ruling party and (thus) weaken the state – which would not be able to achieve its objective of creating a better life for all.” And this, it is expected, would unleash chaos across the country.
The Browse Report alleged that Zuma was being bankrolled by Libyan leader Muammar Gadaffi and Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos to unleash a street-level revolution against President Thabo Mbeki’s rule.
It further said that Zuma had met with officials from both Angola and Libya and that “financial assistance” was either promised or provided.
Selebi said the next step after attaining the information was the formulation of charges. “We now have the information. What we need to do is convert it into evidence that could be used against these people in a court of law. Once that is done, we will effect arrests,” said Selebi.
Government’s biggest headache was that the information peddlers used illegal surveillance to invade people’s privacy and then supplied what appeared to be “explosive” information to departments or state organs ill-equipped to deal with such information.
Dennis told City Press that this was worrying. This might be a veiled reference to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) as its head, Vusi Pikoli, admitted publicly that “someone walked into my office with the (Browse) report”.
Chikane steadfastly refused to reveal names, but City Press understands that an executive of the Directorate of Special Operations (DSO) was questioned by the investigators about the origins of the report.
Chikane said the information in the Browse Report was first given to established security agencies, but, when it was not being acted upon, the “peddlers” decided to take it to the NPA.
In what is seen as a reference to the DSO, the intelligence and security director-general said in a statement: “Other affected departments shall cease to use external security services or individuals without the prescribed vetting requirement.”
The Scorpions, during the Khampepe Commission on the location of the unit, were criticised for using external security services without vetting them.
Pikoli has dared the NIA to arrest any spies that could be working with staff in the DSO.
Chikane said, “There are also indications that there is an interface with foreign intelligence services in a manner that could threaten the security of the State. Simultaneously, we shall ensure that no department of state and state-owned enterprises open themselves to abuse by these entities (foreign spies).”
Chikane’s comments follow those first made by Masetlha at the Khampepe commission that the NIA was concerned about the DSO’s working relationship with US-owned Kroll and Associates – a risk-management company with perceived strong ties to former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operatives.
Masetlha said the engagement meant information could be leaked to foreign agencies.
On Zuma’s Libyan connection, Selebi said it should at this stage be treated as nothing more than a rumour. “If there is no truth (to claims that Zuma is being bankrolled by Libya), you will not hear about it, but if there is truth, you will hear about it because someone will be arrested,” said Selebi.
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