R2K Western Cape objects to Burgess as spy watchdog

**UPDATE: R2K walked out of the intelligence committee meeting after the chairperson, Hon. Connie September, refused to table our letter and blocked other MPs from raising issues mentioned in the letter**

Today former Member of Parliament, Cecil Burgess will be interviewed in Parliament for the role of Inspector General of Intelligence, watchdog of spies. He is one of 11 candidates for the job.

R2K Western Cape has written to the Joint Standing Committee of Intelligence to express concern about the suitability of Mr Burgess for the job. (Download the letter here.)

As previous chair of the Committee that is now interviewing him, Mr Burgess failed to table the committee’s annual reports to Parliament’s for 3 years running, which is required by intelligence services oversight act.

In 2012, a report of the police’s Anti-Corruption Task Team also alleged that Mr Burgess had interfered in the Mdluli investigation.

We believe South Africa needs a fearless and independent person in this role. This is needed to rein in abuses of the intelligence structures and investigate complaints of illegal surveillance.