Media Statement: Ad Hoc Committee on the General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill Concludes Public Hearings in East London

Parliament, Sunday, 28 April 2024 - The Ad Hoc Committee on the General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill (GILAB) today conducted the Eastern Cape leg of public hearings on the Bill in Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality in East London where approximately 160 members of the public participated in the hearings.

The inputs made were in support of the re-establishment of the South African National Intelligence Academy and encouraged the training of intelligence agents. The residents made an appeal that safeguards should be put in place to ensure that the provisions of the Bill do not encroach on the privacy of the public particularly regarding the vetting of individuals emanating from their association with people who have to undergo compulsory vetting.

The current lack of inadequate mechanisms to prevent the misuse of funds within the intelligence sector was also raised as a concern, given the revelations made at the Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture. Submissions also stated that the July 2021 unrests exposed a vacuum in the intelligence services of the country, and that makes it necessary for the country to have a law that capacitates and coordinates the intelligence services.

The role of the intelligence services in identifying and responding to threats against whistle - blowers, who do not have sufficient protection was also highlighted. The current inadequate protection is said to be the reason why whistle - blowers flee the country. Inputs also called for regular meetings between the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence with the President of the country to avoid the recurrence of events such as the July 2021 unrest.

The committee expressed its gratitude to the citizens of the Eastern Cape for their inputs. Today's public hearing marks the end of provincial public hearings on the Bill. The committee will collate a public participation report that includes all the inputs made by the public and stakeholders through public hearings, oral and written submissions.

The Minister in the Presidency supported by the State Security Agency, will now be called upon by the committee to provide responses to all the inputs received. The committee will then deliberate on the inputs made, before it commences with the clause-by-clause deliberation process.

ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON THE GENERAL INTELLIGENCE LAWS AMENDMENT BILL, MR KENNETH MMOIEMANG.

For media enquiries, please contact the committee's Media Officer:
Name: Ms Faith Ndenze
Parliamentary Communication Services
Cell: 081 377 0686
Email: [email protected]

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