STATEMENT FROM THE MINISTRY FOR INTELLIGENCE SERVICES
INTRODUCTION
In keeping with the integrated approach of government, the role of the Ministry for Intelligence is to ensure the protection of the democratic order in the Republic. The Intelligence Services will continue to play a meaningful role in the advancement of security: freedom from fear and want. As their core function, Intelligence Services provide the security services and policy-makers with intelligence critical for decision-making. Intelligence, in this context, is a service and a catalyst for the line function departments.
Whilst the early years of this new dispensation have seen intelligence pre-occupied by amalgamation and integration, focus has now shifted towards the consolidation and deepening of the Intelligence Services as part of a serious drive of transforming the security services. In pursuit of these objectives systemic changes will focus on servicing the national clients; improving service delivery of quality intelligence for law enforcement; representivity and commitment to the new dispensation, and the crafting of a viable and legally sound operational environment.
MINISTRY FOR INTELLIGENCE SERVICES The strategic guidance of the Intelligence Services, the control and superintendence reached new heights in the year under review. The upgrading of the Ministry for Intelligence to a dedicated Ministry is a significant development especially when taken together with the changes in the senior leadership of the Intelligence Services announced by the President late last year.
This process is continuing with the appointment of the first woman as the Deputy Director General in the history of the Intelligence Services of South Africa. Further changes in the top management echelons of the Services are in the offing and will focus on the middle management down to grass levels within the Intelligence Services.
In 1999 the Ministry passed the Intelligence Services Control Amendment Act which has since been assented to by the President. In keeping with this Act, the members of the Joint Standing Committee have been given security clearances by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and will be sworn in shortly. This will enable the Committee to initiate the process of appointing the Inspector-General by the end of the semester. This is one of the first priorities for the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence, from our perspective, which will enhance oversight of the Intelligence Services.
It is our strong view that intelligence services that have no oversight mechanisms often lack public confidence and a supportive working environment. This leads to their being treated as party political football thus undermining our quest for national consensus. For these reasons this is a priority for the Committee.
SUCCESSES IN THE YEAR 1999 Over the past year Intelligence Services have played a critical role in providing support to the government's domestic and international initiatives. Intelligence Services serve quietly and secretly. However, when there are mishaps these tend to be publicised when in fact their successes are unsung. When people sleep soundly in a stable and peaceful environment, this is not in any way associated with the work of the Intelligence Services in particular and that of the security services in general. In salute of their efforts, I would like to highlight critical successes of the Intelligence Services during the year under review.
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE COORDINATING COMMITTEE The year under review has seen the strengthening of relations amongst the security services of our country. This was further consolidated through the co-operation of the Minister under the auspices of the Cluster. The co-ordination and co-operation amongst the different security services, despite a few aberrations that attracted publicity, can be witnessed in their successful operations during our national elections, CHOGM, All Africa Games and other big event security. NICOC has been instrumental in this process.
An important development in this regard is the consolidation of a common approach by the top management of the NICOC member departments, guided by a national implementation plan.
Following from a thorough process, the National Intelligence Priorities for the year 2000 were determined by Cabinet following from a superior National Intelligence Estimates. This process has been singled out as the most thorough and far reaching in the Intelligence Services.
In addition, the setting up of the Early Warning Centre in the Presidency, which is going to be critical in keeping the President and our government informed on a 24-hour basis is a significant development. NICOC is spearheading this process.
THE SOUTH AFRICAN SECRET SERVICE
The South African Secret Service has played a crucial role in Governments' international and regional initiatives aimed at conflict resolution in the DRC, Angola and Lesotho. The South African Secret Service provided early warning intelligence and critical assessments in this regard.
Further, the Secret Service provided critical intelligence and advice in relation to trade and political negotiations with various foreign partners. It also supports the work of the National Conventional Arms Control Committee by providing timeous, relevant, and accurate intelligence in pursuit of the mandate of this crucial government Committee.
As the fight against crime intensifies, the Secret Service and the National Intelligence Agency have supported numerous operations aimed at combating transnational crime syndicates operating within our borders and further afield, in working in close co-operation and support of law enforcement agencies.
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY Further to the above, the National Intelligence Agency continues to play a critical role in providing intelligence to SAPS and the DSO (Scorpions), that has enabled them to effect arrests and prosecutions of people involved in activities such:
* taxi violence;
* corruption within the civil service;
* narcotics and weapons smuggling in the process of combating organised crime.
The National Intelligence Agency played a key role in the provision of accurate intelligence which assisted in the internal stability and peace in our country. Their work contributed towards ensuring that
* our second democratic elections were held in a secure and stable environment, leading to an incident-free inauguration of our President;
* the successful hosting of events such as the All Africa Games and CHOGM, and
* ensuring a smooth transition at the turn of the millennium as a strategic component in dealing with the Y2K phenomenon.
THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE PRIORITIES 2000 The key National Intelligence Priorities for the year 2000 are aimed at combating:
Attempts to destabilise the Constitutional Order, Subversion, Sabotage and Terrorism, and in particular urban terrorism;
* Corruption;
* Crime;
* Espionage;
* Poor protective security within the State;
* Regional Security Dynamics;
* Continental Stability Issues;
* International economic and technological threats and opportunities as they relate to South Africa;
* Ensuring an environment conducive for free and fair local government elections;
* Extremism and terrorism;
* Addressing arms smuggling with a special focus on drug dealers;
* Taxi violence; and
* Involvement of foreign and South African Security Companies in African conflicts.
STRATEGIC CAPACITY BUILDING In order to ensure the attainment of the objectives spelt out in the cluster statement, the Ministry for Intelligence Services will:
* improve interaction and co-operation amongst intelligence, prosecution and investigative arms of government;
* continue to build critical capacity to improve operational capacity and service delivery;
* build capacity for collecting court directed intelligence as part of our intelligence driven investigations approach;
* create a meaningful strategic interpretation capacity in the National Intelligence Co-ordinating Committee;
* launch a concerted effort in HR with full representivity: gender, disability and race;
* promote the effective usage of resources to focus on the core business of the services;
* intensify the efforts in relation to the National Intelligence Priorities as approved by Cabinet;
* ensure more effective signals intelligence collection. Existing capacities and resources will be amalgamated into a new intelligence capacity, which will be a National Communication Centre; and
* improve the administration of the Services by piloting the General Intelligence Amendment Bill, 2000.
The Intelligence Services are geared towards ensuring that more is done and we are convinced that more can be done to improve security and stability within our country, and to advance our national interests abroad. The year 2000 will witness further strides towards building a better life for all.
Issued by Ministry for Intelligence Services, 7 February 2000