Al Jazeera is publishing details from hundreds of secret intelligence documents that it gained access to through what it describes as a “digital leak”.
No further details have been forthcoming on how or where the leak occurred, although the DA has called on the Department of State Security to investigate the breach.
Al Jazeera states that the so-called “Spy Cables” cover the period from 2006 to December 2014 and include briefings and analyses written by South African State Security Agency operatives, together with their secret correspondence with the US’ CIA, the UK’s MI6, Israel’s Mossad, Russia’s FSB as well as agents in Iran and other countries.
The Spy Cables reveal details of several operations, and reveal how Iranian agents attempted to use South African suppliers to beat sanctions and acquire materials for both military and commercial use. Tehran also sought to access South Africa’s nuclear expertise for military uses, according to Al Jazeera.
Among the documents are apparently several that warn of Iranian front companies doing business in South Africa and channelling goods – including arms – back to Iran.
Meanwhile, DA Shadow Minister of Defence and Military Veterans David Maynier has called for an urgent briefing on the leak of the documents.
“The Minister of State Security, David Mahlobo, must brief the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence as a matter of urgency on the leak of classified documents from the State Security Agency (SSA),” Maynier states.
“The State Security Agency is set to experience the ‘largest and possibly most damaging leak’ ever according to Al Jazeera, who is in possession of classified documents that reportedly include briefings and internal analyses generated by the agency between 2006 and 2014.
“I will, therefore, be writing to the chairperson of the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence, Connie September, requesting that she schedule an urgent briefing on what appears to be a massive leak of classified documents from the State Security Agency.”
* See African Defence Review for more ongoing coverage and analysis of the Spy Cables: www.africandefencereview.net
