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NIA to purge Zuma allies
30/04/2006 11:26 - (SA)
Wonder Hlongwa
Johannesburg - The imminent dismissal of National Intelligence Agency's cyber unit manager Funi Madlala is believed to be part of a wider ploy to purge NIA agents perceived to be loyal to ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma.
Madlala has been asked to forward reasons why he should not be dismissed in the wake of the hoax e-mail saga that has already claimed the heads of former director-general Billy Masetlha and counter-intelligence boss Bob Mhlanga.
Madlala was suspected of being the middleman in the distribution of the so-called hoax e-mails that detailed the alleged conspiracy against Zuma and secretary-general Kgalema Mothlante.
Madlala was charged last November for his failure to co-operate with inspector-general of intelligence Zolile Ngcakani, who was probing the hoax e-mail saga.
Attempts to axe Madlala follow last week's dismissal of NIA's former head of counter intelligence Mhlanga and the firing of Masetlha earlier.
Mhlanga refused to comment. However, City Press newspaper has a copy of a letter which ends his employment.
Masetlha, Mhlanga and head of operations Gibson Njenje were suspended last year for their involvement in the investigation of ANC national executive committee member and businessman Saki Macozoma.
There are fears in the NIA that operatives suspected of being loyal to Masetlha and Zuma may be purged.
Sources say morale is low and there is mistrust among agents.
Madlala refused to comment and referred City Press to his lawyer, Niell Schoeman.
Schoeman said they were challenging the procedure followed in charging Madlala and added that their next meeting with ministry officials was set for Friday.
NIA spokesperson Lorna Daniels said the two had not been fired but would face a disciplinary inquiry.
The letter, in the name of intelligence minister Ronnie Kasrils, addressed to Mhlanga's attorney reads: "I have noted the contents of your letter and the fact that your client has not consented to a demotion and further that he has not accepted my proposal on terms for his exit from the National Intelligence Agency.
"Accordingly I have decided to terminate Mr Mhlanga's employment with the National Intelligence Agency, with effect from 30 April 2006."
There are fears within intelligence circles that the purging of top spies believed to be loyal to Zuma and Masetlha could move to middle managers and field operatives.
NIA recently conducted a "qualifications audit", believed to be part of the plan to re-deploy agents suspected of being loyal to Masetlha and Zuma.
Agents, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the request that they should re-submit their CVs was an obvious tactic to facilitate their re-deployment from the NIA.
Zuma was head of ANC intelligence and worked with several agents during the armed struggle. Some of the operatives did not complete high school. Daniels said the qualifications audit was a routine exercise "as part of the human resources management plan".
One agent who claimed that he was frustrated out of the NIA because of his support for Zuma is Nkosinathi Mazibuko. He was medically boarded by the spy agency although his psychologist declared him fit for work.
Mazibuko applied for medical boarding last year and later wanted it withdrawn. But new NIA director-general Manala Manzini rejected Mazibuko's withdraw plea.
City Press is in possession of correspondence between Manzini, Mazibuko and Ngcakani.
Mazibuko unsuccessfully appealed to Ngcakani to have the medical boarding withdrawn.
"I understand that all this frustration is because I once said that if I leave NIA I will go and work with Zuma. That's why I'm persecuted.
"For 10 months I have not been earning, yet I'm a breadwinner," said Mazibuko.
- City Press
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