Johannesburg -The national intelligence agency said on Tuesday it was concerned by statements attributed to the national directorate of public prosecutions' Sipho Ngwema in a daily newspaper.

ThisDay reported that Scorpions head Bulelani Ngcuka had accused NIA agents of using dirty tricks to drive a wedge between him and Justice Minister Penuell Maduna.

The article on Tuesday was headlined: 'Get off my back, Ngcuka tells NIA',

Lorna Daniels of the NIA said on Tuesday night: "We are particularly concerned about statements made by Sipho Ngwema. We want to state that the approach is unethical."

Ngcuka apparently complained to NIA director-general Vusi Mavimbela about the way his agents were conducting themselves, the newspaper reported.

Ngwema was quoted as saying: "I know Ngcuka has raised this with the D-G. He told him he must talk to his people and get them off his back."

Daniels responded:: "Statements made in ThisDay newspaper are inaccurate and misleading."

Asked about Ngcuka's past she said the NIA stated at the start of the Hefer Commission that it would respond directly to the commission on any matter arising out of the hearings, but "we are compelled once more to set the record straight".

Daniels said Ricky Nkondo was a member of the NIA and a friend to both former activist Litha Jolobe and former transport minister Mac Maharaj.

Jolobe testified before the commission last week that he had recently invited Nkondo to a wedding.

Nkondo replied there were some people who want to talk to Jolobe. Maharaj called him a few minutes later, asking him about Ngcuka's past.

"This is a matter which arose at the Hefer Commission and will be handled in that forum by the NIA legal representatives," said Daniels.

"The NIA wishes to once again state that no member of the intelligence community is allowed to disclose any information in the possession of the agency without the authorisation of the director-general.

"The NIA believes that all security agencies must act in a professional manner in discharging their respective mandates," said Daniels.

With acknowledgements to Sapa and News24.