Johannesburg - The State Security Agency (SSA) is investigating malfeasance in the entity, Defence Minister Thandi Modise announced on Sunday.
Modise revealed details of the probe during the justice, crime prevention and security cluster’s briefing following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address.
”A forensic investigation was initiated and a forensic investigations firm has been appointed to conduct an investigation into all malfeasance in the agency,” she said.
According to Modise, the SSA has recently dismissed four members who have been found guilty of fraud and corruption.
”The agency has also made much progress in terms of working with the (National Prosecuting Authority’s) Investigative Directorate to ensure that the persons who were involved in criminality will be prosecuted,” she added.
Police Minister Bheki Cele refused to answer questions about the axing of national commissioner General Khehla Sitole.
President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday terminated Sitole’s employment contract with effect from March 31 by mutual consent.
The president said he and Sitole have agreed that the early termination of the commissioner’s contract is in the best interests of the country.
”The time until General Sitole’s departure will enable a proper handover of various tasks, including all ongoing investigations, to one of the senior members of the team at the SAPS that had been assisting General Sitole,” he explained.
“I am grateful to General Sitole for the constructive discussions we have had over the termination of his position as national commissioner.
I wish to convey my appreciation to General Sitole for his service to the nation over many years in the SAPS. I wish him the best in his future endeavours,” Ramaphosa said.
”The Presidency is seized with the replacement,” Cele said.
Ramaphosa said an announcement will be made in due course on filling the position of SAPS national commissioner following Sitole’s departure.
The security cluster also announced that the SAPS has advertised to recruit graduates, hoping to attract Bachelor of Science graduates as well those from other academic fields.
”This will increase the strength of SAPS in its mandate to prevent and fight crime in communities. We will continually assess the capacity levels within SAPS and recruit accordingly to ensure that we increase the strength of the Police from 180 000 officers to service the county’s population of more than 60 million people,” Cele said.
He promised that the public order police, the family violence, child protection and sexual offences units, front line staff at police stations as well as detectives, will be beefed up with the apportionment of the new trainees to these much stretched units.
”Ministers are also re-evaluating and assessing the capacity and strength of the intelligence services to undertake surveillance and monitoring of stability in the country. The report of the expert panel on the 2021 July unrest pointed shortcomings in this area of work. The State Security Agency (SSA) and crime intelligence will ensure that critical posts are filled, which were left vacant by suspensions, resignations, promotions and deaths,” the ministers said.
Political Bureau