Pretoria - Cabinet has condemned the recent leak of South African security documents, saying it undermines the country's security and diplomatic relations.
“While it is an international practice for countries to share intelligence on, among others, cross cutting issues pertaining to economic opportunities and security matters, the purported leak of documents detailing operations of the State Security Agency is illegal,” Minister responsible for Performance, Monitoring and Evaluation in the Presidency, Jeff Radebe, told the media on Thursday.
“Cabinet condemns in the strongest terms, the leaking of documents that may put the security of the country in jeopardy,” he told a post-Cabinet briefing.
The web of dealings between several foreign agencies was recently revealed through hundreds of documents leaked to an international news agency, Al Jazeera.
The documents, dated from 2006 to 2012, include an alleged assassination plot against African Union (AU) Chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma when she took up the post as AU chairperson, Iran's efforts to use Pretoria to work around its international sanctions imposed by Western powers and the flawed capabilities of the country's intelligence.
A government investigation into the leaking of the South African security documents is underway.
The investigation will also cover the media reports alleging that some politicians are involved in espionage.
Minister Radebe said Cabinet would await the outcome of the investigation instituted by State Security Minister David Mahlobo. - SAnews.gov.za
