This as the JSCI informed the President that it had received a complaint regarding the conduct of the Inspector-General, and that the committee would conduct an investigation in accordance with Section 7(4) and 7(5) of the Intelligence Services Oversight Act (Act 40 of 1994).

Section 7(5) of the Act stipulates that “if the Inspector-General is the subject of an investigation by the (JSCI) in terms of subsection (4), he or she may be suspended by the President pending a decision in such investigation.”

“Mr Fazel has been suspended with immediate effect,” the Presidency said in a statement on Wednesday.

While details of the complaint remain confidential, the move signals the government’s commitment to transparency and legislative oversight within the intelligence community.

Appointed to the post in November 2022, Fazel’s five-year term is set to end in October 2027.

The Inspector-General of Intelligence’s mandate includes monitoring and reviewing the operations of South Africa’s intelligence services the State Security Agency (SSA), Defence Intelligence Division of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and the Crime Intelligence Division of the South African Police Service (SAPS) to ensure they operate within the framework of the law and the Constitution.

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The NSS is intended to guide the government’s overall approach to national security, while the NIE assesses the country’s threat landscape and identifies priority risks. The NSS is particularly important given the current lack of a formal white paper meant to guide national security and foreign policy, to crucial aspects required for providing direction to the South African National Defence Force (SANDF). Given SANDF’s current turmoil, the release of NSS is seen as vital by members of parliament, across the political spectrum.

The delay prompted a written parliamentary question from Democratic Alliance MP Chris Hattingh. After an initial inquiry in October 2024, Hattingh posed a follow-up question on 23 May 2025, as to when the NSS or a redacted version would be released and why publication had not occurred since the document’s finalisation.

In her response, Minister Ntshavheni stated that the revision of the release date was due to ongoing consultations and legal guidance regarding the implications of publishing material produced by national intelligence structures. She cited the need to balance constitutional obligations under Section 198 and the National Strategic Intelligence Act (Act 39 of 1994). While affirming her commitment to the release, Ntshavheni said the NSS would be published once these processes were concluded, preferably before her next budget vote speech, which is scheduled for 15 July 2025.

This delay is despite Ntshavheni statement in her 2024 budget speech that the strategy was already approved by Cabinet, following consultation with the National Intelligence Co-ordinating Committee (NICOC) and the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence (JSCI). Further, Ntshavheni noted that “in accordance with the law and best practice,” the NSS would be released in September 2024.

The 2024/25 NIE, which was also expected to be released in August 2024, has similarly not been made public. There has been no formal update on its status or whether a new estimate has since been prepared for the 2025/26 financial year.

The continued non-publication of both documents raises concerns about transparency and accountability in the intelligence sector. While some degree of classification is expected in national security matters, the lack of even a redacted or summarised NSS contrasts with international practices in democratic governance, where strategic frameworks are often published in abridged form to allow public and parliamentary scrutiny.

The delays in publishing the NSS and NIE come amid broader calls for reform and transparency in the intelligence sector, following the recommendations of the High-Level Review Panel on the State Security Agency, which emphasised the need for improved public accountability.

With no new publication date confirmed, attention will likely remain on the Ministry’s commitment to openness and whether these key strategic documents will be released within the current financial year.

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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.

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