By Lehlohonolo Lehana
@GalloImages.
Inspector-General of Intelligence, Dr Setlhomamaru Dintwe, said that lots of money was stolen in suitcases from the State Security Agency or reported lost and some of it was used to fund a faction of the African National Congress (ANC).
Dintwe painted a grim picture at the Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture on Wednesday.
In his testimony before Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo, Dintwe lifted the lid on how:
- Intelligence Minister Ayanda Dlodlo irregularly approved the appointment of 26 officials to management positions, despite acting director-general Loyiso Jafta’s refusal.
- Operatives siphoned millions from the police crime intelligence (CI) budget through the non-existent procurement of IT and surveillance equipment.
- Intelligence operatives diverted money meant for intelligence gathering and state security to fund ANC factions in buying votes at the party’s watershed 2017 Nasrec national conference.
- An operative claimed €200,000 (about R3.4 million) to pay “a source” without signature or receipt produced.
- Money was stolen through fictitious claims by officials.
He said some of the rot in the SAA and crime intelligence had continued due to the IG’s recommendations and reports being ignored
Dintwe also said nepotism and corruption were dominant in recruitment and employment.
“It is a generally accepted practice that sometimes they could identify operatives at an early stage at school and university to offer bursaries for cadet training, without explaining the criteria. SSA has been turned into an employment agency for the politically connected.
“The problem is that more often we found that there would be family relations with people like ministers – nepotism.
“Those recruited included family members of senior politicians, which is a problem because they become beholden to the appointing authority.”
Meanwhile the State Capture Commission of Inquiry hears Transnet-related testimony from former Transnet group CEO Siyabonga Gama.
Livestream Video Below:
Video Courtesy of SABC.