Africa-Press – South-Africa. Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence (JSCI) has nominated Reverend Frank Chikane to lead the office of South Africa’s inspector-general of intelligence (IGI).
Several candidates were grilled during interviews for the position in February as the term of incumbent IGI Setlhomamaru Isaac Dintwe ended in March.
Dintwe was in the running for re-election to the top job but did not make the cut.
“Following deliberations, the JSCI resolved by a simple majority of members present to nominate Reverend Frank Chikane for approval by the National Assembly, for recommendation to the President for appointment as the IGI,” a committee report read.
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The report was published on Thursday night.
Chikane is a former anti-apartheid activist and political detainee who served as director-general in the Presidency under former president Thabo Mbeki.
Chikane was one of ten candidates who the committee interviewed in February.
The candidates were selected from 25 applications received last year.
“Background screening was requested for all candidates on 20 October 2021. Feedback on background screening was received on 27 October 2021. It was found that all candidates had no negative information of national security relevance; had positive credit records; and all were confirmed South African citizens, which is a requirement in terms of the Section 7(1)(2) of the Act,” the report read.
The IGI oversees the country’s intelligence services‚ including the State Security Agency (SSA)‚ Military Intelligence and the police’s Crime Intelligence unit.
In 2018, a high-level review panel, led by former minister Sydney Mufamadi, probed the paralysis of the SSA.
The panel’s report was scathing about the state of the country’s intelligence agencies.
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The 10-member panel found widespread abuse of the intelligence services, including being used for political ends, such as internal ANC factional battles.
It recommended the sweeping restructuring of the SSA, investigations, as well as the possible laying of criminal charges against former president Jacob Zuma, former ministers and senior SSA officials.
It also recommended an overhaul of governing legislation and oversight capabilities.
The JSCI was, at the time, criticised by the review panel.
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