Zondo commission hears how state security funds used for ANC factional battles, terrorism
The commission of inquiry into state capture has heard that monies meant for intelligence work at the State Security Agency (SSA) were used to fund factional battles in the African National Congress (ANC) and finance terrorism.
Intelligence Inspector General Dr. Setlhomamaru Dintwe returned to the commission on Wednesday.
"What I can confirm is that money has been stolen and we are talking lots and lots of money. It was taken in suitcases and some of it lost people were never really held accountable for that money.
"Our findings are that these monies were used for other things that in fact could affect our national security adversely. For example, some of those monies could be used to fuel political tensions and there is evidence in our possession that some of those monies were used to finance a particular faction within the governing party," said Dintwe.
He added that the monies were also used to finance terrorism.
Nepotism
Dintwe also told the commission that the agency has been used as an employment tool for the politically connected.
He said this was some of it was done through a student cadet program.
"The only problem with the program was the lack of criteria that the cadets or students should comply with. This is created a serious problem because there is evidence which concludes that the SSA has been turned into an employment agency for the politically connected as well as those connected to the senior managers with the SSA and we cannot question that as an oversight body because of the lack of criteria.”
He said recently State Security Minister Ayanda Dlodlo appointed 26 managers and senior managers to the agency through a deviation process.
"They did not advertise the posts, there is no selection panel, there are no interviews, some of those people don't meet the requirements, the acting DG even refused to recommend the appointments and the only thing you find in the submission is that there is a block where they write a motivation. The Motivation talks about what the person's credentials are.
"The DG says some of them were even called from retirement. There is no regulatory framework, when you go through the submissions it does not say how the minister appoints these people and as I talk now, these people are in these positions," said Dintwe.
He told the commission that the majority of these appointees worked for the SSA under former director-general Arthur Fraser.
Free State
Dintwe claimed nepotism is also rife at crime intelligence’s Free State provincial office.
He said there were instances where they could link certain appointed individuals to senior politicians and senior officials of the SSA.
Some of these appointees were either related to the officials or in a romantic relationship with them.
Dintwe said the former head of crime intelligence in the province, Major General Agnes Makhele, acknowledged the nepotism and said it was done to ensure they appointed people they could trust.
"I was sitting with Major-General Makhele in a meeting with others and sought her response on this practice, the names were there including a relative of Makhele herself. The response she gave was that these kids were well-bred because they children to senior officials of SAPS and so forth and that was the reason provided to us.
“I am still in disbelief that this was the reason we were given.”
