NATIONAL ASSEMBLY 

QUESTION NO. 32

FOR ORAL REPLY

DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER: 1 MARCH 2005

(INTERNAL QUESTION PAPER NO: 6-2005)

FOR ORAL REPLY IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ON: 9 MARCH 2005   

N350E

Adv PS Swart (DA) to ask the Minister for Intelligence: 

(1)               With reference to the definition of political intelligence as defined in the National Intelligence Agency’s 2002-03 annual report (a) how broadly does the NIA interpret this definition and (b) how would this interpretation apply to the current unrest in the Free State municipalities;

(2)               Whether he will make a statement on the matter?

REPLY:

1.  The   NIA 2002-2003 Report makes the following reference to Political Intelligence:

The objective of NIA’s focus on political dynamics is to monitor developments in this sphere from the perspective of maintaining South Africa’s domestic stability and security. Typical issues that might attract intelligence attention include political intolerance, inter or intra party conflict of a violent or disruptive nature  or, opposition to democratization.  Any instability resulting from transformation in government structures and parastatals, or from social transformation in general, would also attract NIA’s attention.  

a)     NIA interprets this focus as being in line with its legal mandate and within the framework of the Constitution.

b)     The current unrest in certain Free State municipalities has received attention from NIA, from the perspective of ensuring that public safety is not threatened, and   providing government with an assessment of the root causes of violence where this has taken place.  NIA’s mandate does not extend into addressing   factionalism within political parties or rivalries between them.  Where criminal conduct has been identified, the information has been relayed to the police for further investigation and prosecution, since this lies outside the scope of the NIA’s legal mandate.

2. The Minister will not be making a statement on the matter.