Lack of state accountability raises concerns over surveillance in South Africa

In October this year, President Zuma announced that an inter-ministerial task team, including members of the Security Cluster, would be set up to deal with the #FeesMustFall protests. On Monday, the Institute for Security Studies held (ISS) held a panel discussion on whether state intelligence can help to prevent violent protest. The panelists were the Minister of State Security, David Mahlobo, author of Protest Nation: the Right to Protest in South Africa, Professor Jane Duncan, and the regional coordinator of Right2Protest, Mbalenhle Matandela. 

Duncan’s presentation reiterated, as she has previously told The Daily Vox, that the increased use of security measures tended to increase resorts to violence from protesters. However her main concern was that there was insufficient accountability on behalf of the the State Security Agency (SSA) which made it unreliable in ensuring people’s rights were protected when surveilled.

“There’s an important dimension of accountability that isn’t taken into account enough when it comes to intelligence work – which is public accountability. We tend to focus on executive, legislative and judicial forms of accountability. If we’re going to have appropriate levels of public accountability then we need access to information such that we can make the necessary determinations about how the SSA is conducting itself,” said Duncan.

Duncan said the lack of accountability could be seen in the deficiencies of the Regulation of Interception of Communications and provision of communication-related information Act (Rica) – through its inability to protect people’s rights to security and privacy. She called for a “user notification” system which informs individuals, within a set period, when their communications have been intercepted – unless there are compelling reasons (such as criminal activity) for the user not be informed.

As a local example, Duncan cited the violation of Rica when, in 2011, two Sunday Times journalists had their phones tapped by the Hawks while they were investigating matters relating to President Zuma and other government officials. Since then, there have been campaigns demanding the reform of Rica to better protect individuals from unwarranted government surveillance.

Matandela’s presentation also focused on issues of accountability, stating that it seemed the only means of accountability the state was relying on were the courts, which prosecuted students for protest-related activities – criminal and otherwise – but then denied bail or delayed the court cases of students being detained. She argued that this was to be seen as a political means of stifling the right protest, as opposed to holding criminal acts to account.

“The mandate of SSA does not include investigating lawful protest activity, advocacy or dissent unless there is a threat to overthrowing the constitutional order. Right now, although there is societal panic, there is not enough evidence that there is a serious threat to SA’s constitutional order,” said Matandela.

Matandela raised the concern that state intelligence might be used to inform the state’s politically motivated tactics, as opposed to investigating criminal activity.

:Delving into the privacy of protesters in ways that are unaccountable, unseen and already assume that they are criminal, undermines the sense of security for protesters. Should they decide to engage in democratic process, being harassed or a target for interception often leads to a paranoia – this along with the PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder] caused by increased securitisation of campuses can effectively demobilise entire movements,” said Matandela.

Minister Mahlobo responded to the two panelists, claiming that both Duncan and Matandela’s definition of the SSA’s mandate was very narrow, as it was also the SSA’s duty to protect the state’s interests. This includes protecting institutions and infrastructure that were often the target of protests. He highlighted that certain political bodies, in vying to push forward their political ideals, sometimes resorted to strategies and tactics that could destabilise the country – and that this meant that intelligence on such matters was required.

“If there are wrong things that are done, should the state not be in the position to secure the rights of others?” asked Mahlobo.

On the issues of accountability, Mahlobo admitted that there might be real issues that needed to be looked at, but that he and his ministry were willing to engage in discussion and accept suggestions for improvement. He warned though, that the impression should not be entertained that no means of accountability were currently present.

The matter of his alleged involvement in facilitating and profiting from rhino poaching  was also brought up.

The panel discussion ended with Mahlobo responding to concerns over distrust of state institutions, given the Public Protector’s State of Capture report and allegations from Fees Must Fall leader, Mcebo Dlamini, that his arrest was politically motivated. The minister said that such allegations of his own involvement were unfounded and unfair, but that he would be open to investigation to all matters relating to his conduct and allegations of illegal activity.