Political Parties Unite to Pass New Intelligence Bill Amidst Concerns of Past Abuse
In a rare show of unity, the African National Congress (ANC), the Democratic Alliance (DA), and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have come together to support a new intelligence bill in South Africa. This bill aims to address the misuse of intelligence services that occurred during former President Jacob Zuma’s tenure. After five years of development, the bill was swiftly adopted by the National Assembly within just four months. This response follows a high-level panel review of the country’s security agencies in 2018.
Under the new legislation, intelligence services will once again be divided into separate foreign and domestic agencies. The Democratic Alliance’s Dianne Kohler-Barnard praised the bill as “elegant” and essential for safeguarding democracy, while the Economic Freedom Fighters’ Mbuyiseni Ndlozi emphasized the importance of granting greater autonomy to the Inspector General of Intelligence to prevent internal political factionalism. Chairperson of the ad hoc committee overseeing the bill, Jerome Maake, believes it strikes a balance between ensuring the effective functioning of intelligence services and protecting civil liberties.
Three Men Found Guilty in LGBTQ+ Activist Sam Mbatha’s Murder
In a significant development, three individuals, including a teenager, have been found guilty of the murder of LGBTQI+ activist Sam Mbatha by the North West High Court. Arthur Khoza, 19, Mahlatsi Nkuna, 21, and Thato Mosetla, 22, faced charges including robbery, kidnapping, murder, malicious property damage, and defeating the ends of justice. Mbatha’s body was discovered inside a burnt vehicle in January 2021 and was positively identified through DNA testing.
The trio was arrested in June 2021 following a thorough police investigation that linked them to the crime scene, where bloodstains and a suspected murder weapon – an axe – were found. The case is scheduled for sentencing on July 25, 2024.
Detective Arrested in Cousins’ Kidnapping Case
In another development, North West police have made significant progress in the investigation of the kidnapping of two cousins, Zahraa Mohammed (17) and Bataviya Mohammed (19). A multi-disciplinary team recently apprehended two additional suspects, one of whom is a police officer. The kidnapping took place on March 6 while the teenagers were on their way to school. After an intense search, the cousins were rescued from a house in Klipgat near Winterveldt and Mabopane on March 25.
Six suspects were initially arrested during the rescue operation, with two subsequently cleared. Among the arrested is a police sergeant from Letlhabile detectives. The suspects are set to appear before the Brits Magistrate’s Court, facing charges of kidnapping and extortion. The victims were found in relatively good health, albeit exhausted and traumatized, and were reunited with their families.
