State Security: Minister's Budget Vote Speech
Briefing
10 May 2012
Minister of State Security, Dr Siyabonga Cwele gave his Budget Vote Speech on the 10 May 2012
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Chairperson
Introduction
In this year of the Centenary of the ANC let me borrow from the words of one of our great leaders “ There is today among all races and men a general desire for progress and for cooperation because cooperation will facilitate that progress…..It is natural, therefore, that there should arise even among us this striving, this self-conscious movement and sighing for union…We are the last among all the nations of the earth to discover the priceless jewel of cooperation ,…..cooperation is the key and watchword which opens the door, the everlasting door which leads to progress and national success. … The South African Native Congress is the voice wilderness bidding all the dark races of the subcontinent to come together once or twice a year in order to review the past and reject therein all those things which have retarded progress, the things which poison the spring of our national life and virtue; to label and distinguish the sins of civilisation and as members of our household to talk and think loudly on our home problems and the solutions of these.”
These were the words of Prixley Seme on 24 October 1911 as they were preparing the launch of the ANC.
Chairperson,
We, in the State Security Department, are seized with the work of supporting government to achieve the outcomes to ensure that;
All people in South Africa are and feel safe and
We create a better South Africa and contribute to a better and safer Africa and the world
For this reason, the Department of State Security will continue to ply its trade guided by the theme: “Working Together to Build a Safer Nation in a Secure World.” This theme marks continuity with change. Continuity because we allow centres of excellence to soar to greater heights, working centres to strive for being centres of excellence and those areas that are not rising to the challenge are changed with a view to infusing a new focus, priorities and if needs be, new leadership to drive them.
Progress in the Restructuring process
Chairperson,
The processes that we had embarked upon in reviewing and restructuring the intelligence architecture are meant to ensure that we have professional and efficient state security architecture. Commendable progress has been made, since last year, with regard to the restructuring, consolidation and establishment of a professional State Security Agency (SSA).
In our previous address, we committed ourselves that we will finalise the integration of all our operating systems. We are happy to report that the benefits of an integrated State Security Agency (SSA) are already visible due to the savings that are accruing from having as Single Asset Register; Payroll, Budget Management, Financial Accounting and Procurement Systems.
We have entered the last phase of the restructuring process and have commenced with the official migration of our members into the new structure. We have also appointed a Programme Manager at a DDG level, to ensure that this crucial project is finalised within our timeframes. As part of stabilising the organisation, the migration of members is expected to be concluded by June 2012. This will be followed by the process of filling vacancies through internal transfers and external recruitment.
Pursuant to the commitment we made last year of codifying the Presidential Proclamation of 2009 that created the State Security Agency, we have prepared and tabled in parliament, the General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill (GILAB). This legislation is currently before the Ad-Hoc Committee of the National Assembly and we hope it will be soon finalised into law governing the State Security Agency.
Training remains the driving pillar of our restructuring programme whose mainstay is to re-skill, refocus, empower and energise our members. Particular attention will be placed on tradecraft as well as language training. We will establish a Centre for Foreign Intelligence Service Training while on the other hand our members will continue to receive specialised training from our strategic partners abroad. Our flagship Cadet Program is being reviewed in order to attract loyal, dedicated and disciplined members to the Agency. This year we have begun with the recruitment of 150 young South Africans to our college as part of a three year plan to inject 540 new recruits in our community.
Vetting
Part of our objective as State Security is to be able to conduct vetting for all government departments in a user-friendly and speedier manner. This is in line with our counter intelligence mandate that ensures that we create conditions of security that enables government and critical state entities to do their work. In this respect, we have prioritised the appointment of managers in the critical areas of Vetting and ICT Security. Last year we committed ourselves to reducing backlogs over a period of three (3) years.
As part of extending our vetting field beyond national departments, consultations were undertaken by SSA with provincial offices and national departments regarding the establishment of Vetting Field Units (VFUs) in departments that were not included in the 2006-2011 National Vetting Strategy.
To date 19 VFUs were established at a number of Organs of State. These include, but not limited to the South African Reserve Bank, South African Revenue Service (SARS), Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Department of Tourism, Department of Environmental Affairs National Prosecution Authority, Department of Correctional Services and State Information Technology Agency (SITA).
In this financial year we will build on this progress and prioritise the finalisation of the Integrated SSA National Vetting Strategy. The Strategy is intended to improve turn-around time in the vetting processes. The risk and project-based approaches that we intend to build into the strategy will go a long way in assisting with unnecessary backlogs. Importantly, we seek to automate the vetting process to make it more user-friendly and to cut down on turn-around times. This automation will begin the introduction of a continuous rather than a periodic approach to vetting.
As part of our vetting mandate we have also prioritised the training of Security Managers across government departments. In the reporting period, twenty two (22) Security Managers were trained and we expect to train an additional thirty (30) in 2012/2013 financial year.
When delivering his State of the Nation, the President called for the screening of all supply chain personnel in government, this as one of the interventions aimed at curbing corruption. This is critical given government’s bold and visionary Infrastructure Development Programme. In this regard, we have prioritised this project and remain ready and capable to implement it.
National Communications
We continue with the project of integrating of our intelligence technology platforms in order to improve service delivery and to reduce the turnaround time.
The storage capacity for the lawful intercepts was upgraded which has resulted in a faster and more efficient monitoring system. This has resulted in an improvement of our delivery of lawful intercepts to law enforcement agencies. The product distribution network together with the Internet Protocol Interception Systems will be prioritised in this financial year.
We wish to express our appreciation to Judge Khumalo, our former designated interception judge, who has gone on retirement and wish him well. We thank him for his contribution in ensuring that we do our work in terms of the law. We also welcome our new designated judge, Judge Yvonne Mokgoro. We look forward to working with you and in finalising outstanding matters such as electronic direction system as well as distribution network.
Chairperson,
We are pleased to report that National Cyber security Policy Framework was approved by Cabinet in February 2012. This policy will result in improved coordination of government’s response to the 21st century challenges of information security. The State Security Agency is coordinating this work across government in order to finalise the policy by 2013.
National Security Strategy
Chairperson,
We had reported last year that we were in an advanced stage of developing the National Security Strategy and the National Interest Doctrine. The National Intelligence Coordinating Committee (NICOC) Task Team has developed a Draft National Security Strategy, following consultations with critical role players in and outside the security structures to enrich the concept. The Draft Strategy is to be further refined with the involvement of stakeholders including parliament before it is finalised into a composite strategy document.
Chairperson,
This House would recall that, as part of the National Security Strategy, we had identified Dual Use Technologies that have both security and commercial applications as a priority. An interdepartmental team has been established and is tasked to determine the status of dual use technologies and to propose plans for control and research and development.
The Team has had consultations with senior officials at relevant public entities and proposed the establishment of an oversight, control, coordination and management mechanism of all innovation, research and development activities associated with dual use technologies. We will prioritise the finalisation of this Strategy in the current financial year.
Border Management Agency
Chairperson,
As part of the SADC region, our country continues being confronted by the problems of illegal migration and other transnational organised crime, including human smuggling. We continue to work within the SADC framework together with our neighbours to collectively address this global challenge in our region.
The business case for the establishment of the BMA by 2014 will be processed by the Cabinet Committee in this current financial year.
Fraud and corruption
Honourable Members,
The single biggest threat to our development agenda is fraud and corruption. This is a cancer that steals from the most vulnerable in our society, undermines good governance and public confidence in the state.
Securing special events
Our flagship project of securing special events continues to contribute positively to our overall counter intelligence mandate.
Internal consultation
Chairperson,
We recognise the attendant challenges of establishing a new organisation. In this respect, we committed ourselves to the creation of a conducive working environment for all our members through establishing internal consultation mechanisms. The Consultation Mechanism Task Team that was appointed in 2008 is finalising a report for the Minister on how to strengthen consultation mechanism.
Veterans
Our efforts to ensure closer cooperation between Veterans and the State Security Agency are ongoing. We have completed the draft Constitution for a State Security Veterans Association which will enable the sharing of intelligence knowledge, experiences and expertise with current members. In addition it is envisaged that the Association will promote the history of heritage of the State Security Agency. We have directed the Agency to continue with consolations with our Veterans in order to establish the Association by the end of this financial year.
Contributing to Better and Safer Africa in a Better World
The gradual transformation of the world from a bi-polar arrangement into a global village, coupled with the inherent competition for world resources and desire by nation states to claim their share of the world markets, highlights some of the challenges in today’s complex world affairs.
President Zuma also reminded us “The radical transformation occurring globally has narrowed the distinction between foreign and domestic threats. World borders are now softer than ever. Whether it is transnational crime, terrorism or the global political situation, the international security situation requires all states to remain vigilant and to cooperate in protecting respective national security interests and their citizens.”
Honourable Members,
SADC remains stable except for the political and security challenge in
The collapse of Gaddafi government has led to insecurity, increased terrorism and proliferation of arms in the
The people of Guinea Bissau continue to face tragedy after tragedy. January was marked by the demise of former President Sanah. This necessitated the Speaker of the National Assembly, Mr Pereira, to act as interim President and to prepare for National Elections, which were held in March 2012. The ruling party, under the leadership of Carlos Gomez Junior obtained 49% in the first round and were poised to win the second round in April, yet on 12 April the army, once again staged a coup d’état.
We remain concerned with the tension and recent hostilities between
Despite these hot spots in Africa including political challenges in
BRICS
In June we will be attending the Third International Meeting of High Representatives Supervising Security Issues which will take place in
Chairperson,
In striving for the highest attainable governance standards, we will continue to work closely with the Office of the Inspector General of Intelligence. We will also continue to work with the Auditor General in ensuring that public funds are managed according to the applicable legislation. We will account to Parliament through the JSCI.
Allow me, Mr Chairperson, to thank,
My family and friends for their constant support, particularly from Lindo and Ntando.
Judge Mokgoro who is responsible for interception directions,
Auditor-General, Mr Terence Nombembe,
Inspector-General, Adv Faith Radebe,
Members of the JSCI, under the leadership of Advocate Cecil Burgess.
Veterans of the Civilian Intelligence Services
Chairperson of the Staff Council, Mr Xolile Mashukuca
The Acting Director-General of State Security Agency, Mr Dennis Dlomo and his Senior Management Team
My advisory team and
My office staff
I request the House to adopt the Vote for State Security Agency.
I thank you.
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