SA’s intelligence and security community has been plunged into an unprecedented crisis that commentators say is threatening the stability of the country.

Last week’s dramatic purge of the top leadership of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) is the latest development in a protracted war between factions in the security services aligned either to President Thabo Mbeki or former deputy president Jacob Zuma.

Until now it has been thought that the Scorpions would be the first security casualties of the Zuma-Mbeki dogfight. But the tables turned last week when Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils suspended intelligence chief Billy Masetlha, his deputy, Gibson Njenje, and counter-intelligence chief Bob Mhlanga.

Now the NIA finds itself fighting for its credibility as they face an inquiry over illegal monitoring of ANC bigwig Saki Macozoma.

Last week’s events can be traced back to the Hefer commission in 2003, set up to probe claims that former National Prosecuting Authority head Bulelani Ngcuka was a spy for the apartheid government.

Since then, the war of the security agencies has escalated and spilt out into the public on several occasions. Most recent was an armed standoff between the Scorpions and the police VIP Protection Unit at Zuma’s Johannesburg residence and a still-unexplained fire at ANC headquarters.

The Khampepe commission of inquiry into the future of the Scorpions has exposed divisions within security agencies.

These fights have now raised questions about whether any of the security agencies acts to uphold the constitution or private political agendas. As the mudslinging intensifies, it is clear that neither the Scorpions nor the NIA is immune to political manipulation.

“Definitions of threats to state security are beginning to include threats to individual and economic interests,” said political analyst Aubrey Matshiqi.

Announcing the suspensions of the spy agency’s top leadership, Kasrils went to great lengths to assure the public that the politics of succession in the ANC had nothing to do with his action. He does not appear to have convinced everyone.

Zuma and ANC Youth League president Fikile Mbalula questioned his actions. Mbalula claims to have contacted Kasrils with complaints that he was being illegally monitored by state agents. He says the minister’s response was to dismiss him.

Zuma pointed out to a Sunday newspaper that his complaint against Ngcuka was endorsed by the public protector, yet no action was taken.

This raises uncomfortable questions for Kasrils, whose actions appear to be inconsistent, if not partisan.

However, a senior government insider says irrespective of the factional battles, the Macozoma incident highlights a lack of professionalism in the NIA.

The incompetent conduct of the Macozoma surveillance appears to bear this out.

In the end, the Khampepe commission will decide the future of the Scorpions, while intelligence inspector-general Zolile Ngcakani will decide the fate of the suspended NIA top brass. But neither of these two processes will stem the creeping politicisation of the country’s security establishment.

With acknowledgements to Vukani Mde, Karima Brown and the Business Day.