NIA sex quiz leaves Sisulu red-faced
2002-04-21 20:54
Pretoria - Intelligence Minister Lindiwe Sisulu has apologised for "the
alleged insensitive and unsavoury" questioning of journalists
undergoing security competence testing for the proposed new
presidential press corps.
This follows press reports that the National Intelligence Agency
(NIA) has been questioning full details of journalists' sex lives,
including whether or not they had ever practised homosexual sex, as
part of the security clearance process.
The Sunday Independent reported that among questions asked are
who the journalist has slept with, whether that was a complete list
of their sexual partners, and whether he or she has slept with
members of the same sex.
The paper said this has drawn fierce objections among legal
experts and press groups who see the practice as unconstitutional
and unnecessary.
Sisulu's spokesperson Lorna Daniels said in a statement on Sunday
her department noted the reports "with regret" and had issued a
directive for the review of instruments used in the security
competence test with the intention of withdrawing any insensitive
questions.
"The minister wishes to apologise most profusely to the
president and any other South African for the alleged questions,"
she said.
Daniels said the NIA director-general had already explained to
Sisulu that the incident could be attributed to "an over zealous"
official who might "have gone overboard" during the non-standard
interview.
The new presidential press corps is modelled along the lines of
the White House press corps which has privileged access to the
president and travels with him on occasion.
It was proposed at the indaba between editors and senior
journalists under the umbrella of the South African National
Editors' Forum (SANEF) and Cabinet in May 2001 and is scheduled to
begin operation on April 30.
The Government Communications and Information System said on
Sunday that in the light of the Sunday Independent report,
government and the presidential press corps interim committee would
meet next week to establish and resolve any areas of concern that
might exist, including privacy and constitutionality.
- SAPA