By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) stalwart Sylvia Lucas has been appointed as chairperson of Parliament’s newly constituted Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence.
In addition the following members were appointed to the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence in terms of section 2 of the Intelligence Services Oversight Act of 1994. – Ms Doris Eunice Dlakude (ANC) – Mr Mluleki Dlelanga (ANC) – Mr Tshilidzi Bethuel Munyai (ANC) – Mr Kenneth Mosimanegape Mmoiemang (ANC) – Ms Jane Seboletswe Mananiso (ANC) – Ms Dianne Kohler (DA) – Ms Jeanne Marguerite Adriaanse (DA) – Mr Nicholas Georg Myburgh (DA).
Members of the committee were sworn in today at Parliament by Judge President Nolwazi Mabindla-Boqwana of the Western Cape Division of the High Court.
Lucas and her co-committee members will be overseeing implementation of the South African government’s new intelligence dispensation, which includes two new departments for internal and external security (The Domestic Intelligence Agency – DIA – and Foreign Intelligence Service – FIS).
The services came into effect after President Cyril Ramaphosa signing the General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill (GILAB) into law last week.
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 the Foreign Intelligence Service and Domestic Intelligence Agency. In addition, the law re-establishes the South African National Academy of Intelligence (SANAI) and the Intelligence Training Institute to enhance intelligence capacity-building.
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.
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.