Inspector General & Parliament’s secretive committee – new twist

R2K, amaBhungane, and the Institute for Security Studies have sent letters here and here to Parliament’s joint standing committee on intelligence (JSCI), Speaker Baleka Mbete and all political parties calling for the selection of a new Inspector-General of Intelligence to be restarted – and to be held in the open.

The JSCI recently completed its interviews for a replacement in secret, despite the selection of the outgoing Inspector-General, advocate Faith Radebe, having been conducted in public in 2009.

We engaged with the JSCI over recent months in an attempt to convince it to drop the cloak of secrecy at least for this appointment, for which public trust is vital. All attempts to engage Parliament on this matter have been rebuffed.

However, last week the Daily Dispatch reported on rumours that Parliament’s secret process has stalled, and will start afresh. There has been no public announcement from Parliament about this and no explanation.

As a result, R2K, AmaBhungane and ISS, has written to the Committee once more to highlight the need for transparency and hte to demand both an explanation and a proper and open process to appoint the Inspector General.

Read the letters here and here

TIMELINE

18 Jan: Sunday Times reports that that the Committee is due to short-list candidates for the post of Inspector General.

20 Jan: R2K writes to the Committee Chairperson, calling for an open recruitment process, including open interviews.

27 Jan: The Committee Chairperson responds, to the effect that no decision had yet been taken on whether the process would be open or closed. The letter refers to a public statement.

30 Jan: R2K writes to the Committee Chair, again highlighting the need for an open process, and requesting confirmation of when a decision would be taken, as well as a timeline for the overall recruitment process. We receive no response.

24 Feb: a subcommittee of the JSCI meets briefly to shortlist candidates in an open meeting, though no information is provided to public attendees about any candidates.

24 Feb: the JSCI makes a brief statement releasing the names of 8 candidates, but no further information, and gives 4 working days for public input. The Committee makes no mention of whether interviews would be open or closed.

8 Mar: City Press reports that the JSCI has already decided to conduct interviews behind closed doors. The JSCI makes no public statement.

9 March: R2K writes to the Speaker, the NCOP Chair and the JSCI Chairperson in protest, highlighting the Constitutional requirement for an open process and for any decision to adopt a closed process to be backed up by good reasons.

11 March: The Institute for Security Studies writes a letter of concern to the JSCI Chairperson highlighting the need for a transparent process with full participation. There is no response.

17 March: R2K receives a response from the Speaker’s office, dated 12 March, washing its hands of the matter.

17 March: The Democratic Alliance announces that the JSCI has already begun interviewing candidates in secret. The JSCI has still not made a public statement on the matter.

8 April: The Daily Dispatch reports on rumours that the JSCI will not appoint any of the candidates and will start again.