Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni announced through a parliamentary reply, that the State Security Agency (SSA) has implemented 47 of the 73 recommendations made by the High-Level Review Panel Report.

To date, the completed recommendations notably include the re-establishment of the National Security Council (NSC), and a thorough audit of all the SSA’s technological assets and the development a consolidated asset register. The pre-SDP structure has been re-instituted, but the restructuring of the Agency has been suspended, until the restructuring task team completes its work in preparation of the implementation of the General Intelligence Laws and Amendments Bill (GILAB 2024). Management and staff displaced by SDP process have either been reinstated or are gainfully deployed.

The vision and mission, scope and structure of a national intelligence training and education capacity is under review, and the SSA is developing an appropriate career advancement protocol. Further, the agency is developing exit options for existing staff.

“The education, training and development of intelligence officers should ensure extensive knowledge and understanding of the constitutional, legislative and other prescripts relating to intelligence as well as the definition of, and procedures for dealing with manifestly illegal orders,” said Minister Ntshavheni.

Ntshavheni stated that senior appointments, “including those of Deputy Directors-General, should be made in accordance with the Recruitment and Appointment Directives and Regulations, as is the norm in government.”

“While the prerogative to appoint a head of service/s should remain with the President, such appointment should follow a similar process as currently being undertaken for the appointment of the National Director of Public Prosecutions or as recommended in Chapter 13 of the National Development Plan,” added Ntshavheni

Furthermore, the Minister revealed the Agency would conduct an urgent policy review of the Agency’s security vetting mandate, and “urgently institute a major project to plan for and resource a medium- to long-term recapitalisation of the Agency’s technological capacities.”

Drafting of the new National Security Strategy is also underway, with staff being consulted on the changes emerging out of review recommendations.

The Minister called for the ministries of State Security and Justice to “urgently attend to the strengthening of the capacity of the judicial authority established in terms of RICA and the expediting of the review of the RICA legislation.”

The SSA is further exploring idea of a dedicated capacity for the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence (JSCI) and the establishment of the intelligence coordination mechanisms through regulations.

“The remaining recommendations will be implemented as soon as the GILAB becomes law. When the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence is set up, I commit to brief the Committee on progress that has been made in implementing the remedial actions,” said Ntshavheni.