On 31 March 2025, Sylvia Lucas was officially appointed as the Chairperson of the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence (JSCI) in terms of Section 2 of the Intelligence Services Oversight Act of 1994. Her appointment marks a significant moment in the oversight of South Africa’s intelligence services, as the committee plays a crucial role in ensuring accountability and transparency within the sector.
Alongside Lucas, the new members were sworn into the JSCI on 01 April 2025, further strengthening parliamentary oversight of intelligence operations. The newly appointed members are Doris Eunice Dlakude, Mluleki Dlelanga, Tshilidzi Bethuel Munyai, Kenneth Mosimanegape Mmoiemang, Jane Seboletswe Mananiso, Dianne Kohler, Jeanne Marguerite Adriaanse, and Nicholas Georg Myburgh. These members took their oaths before Judge President Nolwazi Mabindla-Boqwana of the Western Cape Division of the High Court during a formal swearing-in ceremony at Parliament.
The JSCI is responsible for overseeing the operations of South Africa’s intelligence agencies, including the newly established intelligence branches, following the restructuring of the State Security Agency (SSA). The committee ensures that these agencies operate within legal frameworks and do not overstep their mandates. As Chairperson, Lucas will be responsible for leading investigations, reviewing intelligence budgets, and ensuring compliance with national security legislation.
The appointments to the JSCI come at a pivotal time as South Africa implements the General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill (GILAB), which was signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa, albeit after a 10 month delay. This legislative reform marks a significant overhaul of South Africa’s intelligence services and strengthens oversight mechanisms.
The GILAB amends key intelligence-related laws, including the National Strategic Intelligence Act of 1994, the Intelligence Services Act of 2002, and the Intelligence Services Oversight Act of 1994. Among its major reforms, the law disestablishes the State Security Agency (SSA) and replaces it with two distinct entities. The Foreign Intelligence Service (FIS) will be responsible for foreign intelligence gathering, identifying both opportunities and threats to national security. The Domestic Intelligence Agency (DIA) will focus on counter-intelligence and gathering domestic intelligence to detect internal security threats. In addition, the law re-establishes the South African National Academy of Intelligence (SANAI) and the Intelligence Training Institute to enhance intelligence capacity-building.
Further provisions include the introduction of stricter measures regarding bulk interception of internet traffic entering or leaving South Africa, requiring internal authorisations and court reviews. The law also enhances financial management and expenditure oversight of intelligence entities under the JSCI’s purview and provides greater autonomy for the Inspector-General of Intelligence and the National Intelligence Coordinating Committee (NICOC) in making administrative and operational decisions.
With these structural reforms, the JSCI’s role in ensuring that intelligence agencies function lawfully and effectively becomes even more crucial. The committee will oversee the budgets, operations, and conduct of both the FIS and DIA, ensuring compliance with national security policies and legal frameworks.
The restructuring aligns with the recommendations of the 2018 Presidential High-Level Review Panel on the SSA and the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into State Capture (the Zondo Commission). These reports highlighted past intelligence abuses, political interference, and financial mismanagement within the SSA, necessitating urgent reforms to restore integrity and effectiveness within the intelligence sector.
