The State Security Agency (SSA) has dismissed recent media allegations regarding a so-called “Operation Sibonkolo”, describing them as diversionary tactics intended to undermine the agency’s ongoing transformation.
It was reported last week that SSA Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni initiated a covert operation called Sibonkolo to “monitor and smear the current deputy president” Paul Mashatile, but its framework has since been expanded to target nine other senior ANC politicians as “she has ambitions to become one of the ANC top six,” according to The Sunday World.
According to the SSA, these claims misrepresent the progress being made in reforming the agency and attempt to depict it as a rogue entity resistant to change.
In a rare public statement, the SSA categorically denied the existence of such an operation and rejected any suggestion that it was involved in manipulating state apparatus for political purposes. The agency emphasised that its activities are strictly governed by established Operational Directives, with additional regulatory frameworks currently being developed to enhance oversight and accountability. The SSA further reiterated that all legally mandated oversight mechanisms remain fully functional.
The SSA has been undergoing significant restructuring, following recommendations from the Zondo Commission. The commission highlighted several operational weaknesses within the agency, including its unlawful merger of domestic and foreign intelligence functions into a single entity. This consolidation, deemed unconstitutional and inefficient, prompted calls for reform to restore the SSA’s original structure and mandate.
In response, the government introduced the General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill, which seeks to separate the SSA’s domestic and foreign intelligence branches into distinct entities. This restructuring is intended to enhance operational focus, prevent political interference, and ensure intelligence operations align with constitutional principles.
The bill was presented to President Cyril Ramaphosa on 16 May 2024 and still awaits his signature before it can be passed into law. However, despite the legislation not yet being enacted, Ntshavheni has confirmed that preparations for its full implementation are already underway.
Despite these ongoing reforms, key national security documents, which were expected to guide the SSA’s future operations, have yet to be made public. Two major documents, the National Security Strategy (NSS) and the National Intelligence Estimate (NIE), were previously announced in Parliament, with scheduled releases in September 2024 and August 2024, respectively. However, neither has been formally published.
The National Security Strategy (NSS) was developed in consultation with the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence (JSCI) of the 6th Administration and approved by Cabinet in the previous financial year 2023/24. It is intended to serve as a strategic blueprint for intelligence operations, outlining the SSA’s approach to safeguarding national security and defining key priorities.
The National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) was prepared by the National Intelligence Coordinating Committee (NICOC) in collaboration with the JSCI. This document is expected to provide a comprehensive analysis of national security threats, categorising them by severity and priority.
However, the delay in their release is linked to a major administrative hurdle, the absence of a new JSCI. The JSCI, is only parliamentary body responsible for intelligence oversight, and has yet to be constituted under the 7th administration, creating a gap in official intelligence governance. Minister Ntshavheni has stated that once the JSCI is formally established, a progress report on the SSA’s reforms will be submitted, followed by the official release of the NIE.
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