President Cyril Ramaphosa has suspended South Africa’s Inspector-General of Intelligence, Imtiaz Fazel, with immediate effect, pending the outcome of a parliamentary investigation into allegations concerning his conduct.
The Presidency confirmed the decision on Thursday after receiving notification from Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence (JSCI) that a formal complaint had been lodged against Fazel. The committee has since initiated an inquiry in accordance with the Intelligence Services Act.
In line with Section 7(5) of the Act, which authorizes the suspension of the Inspector-General during a parliamentary investigation, Ramaphosa approved Fazel’s suspension pending the conclusion of the probe.
While the specific details of the complaint have not been made public, the JSCI is mandated to investigate any alleged misconduct or breach of duty by the Inspector-General, who serves as the civilian oversight authority for South Africa’s intelligence services.
Appointed in 2022, Fazel has been responsible for overseeing the activities of the State Security Agency, Defence Intelligence, and Crime Intelligence, ensuring their operations comply with the law and respect constitutional rights.
His suspension comes amid growing scrutiny of South Africa’s intelligence community, with Parliament and civil society calling for greater transparency and accountability in the sector.
The outcome of the JSCI investigation will determine whether Fazel is reinstated or permanently removed from office. No specific timeline has been set for the conclusion of the inquiry.
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Source:Africa Publicity
