SA needs to strengthen intelligence committee, says Mapisa-Nqakula

Mapisa-Nqakula testified at the South African Human Rights Commission’s hearing into the July unrest.

She explained the role of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) during the July looting and riots in parts of Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.

She told the commission that KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi went on paternity leave and was reluctant to share information with the defence team.

This affected the defence’s ability to deploy soldiers in various parts of KZN affected by the unrest.

Mapisa-Nqakula said a strong central intelligence committee is necessary.

“I think that along the way, maybe the structure of National Intelligence Co-ordinating Committee has been weakened and needs once more people to come together and help people understand why in the first place there was a decision to establish the national intelligence committee.

“There are several countries which have that and those are the countries who have made sure, who have strengthened that office and thrown in resources to make sure that it is functional, there are stable, you will not have the kind of challenges which we have.

“You will not find this competition of contradictory reports because once you have intelligence services which will not give you or interpret the information the same way then you are in trouble as a country,” said Mapisa-Nqakula.

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