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Kasrils praises Mo's appointment as spy head |
| Publication |
Cape Argus |
| Date | 2009-10-11 |
| Reporter | Moshoeshoe Monare |
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Web Link |
Former intelligence minister Ronnie Kasrils surprisingly came out in support
of Moe Shaik as head of the South African Secret Service, adding he also wanted
to appoint the controversial superspy in 2004.
Kasrils, who resigned as minister last year after the recall of former president
Thabo Mbeki, says "there is not a blemish" on Shaik's professional record.
"Up until that time as an official in government in various levels, Moe was
politically non-partisan, he was not involved, he did not open his mouth with
regard to the Schabir, Zuma issue at all... Moe's role from that period, 2005 to
Polokwane (2007), was in his capacity as an ordinary member of the ANC and
ordinary citizen. So there's no way one can hurl at him accusations of political
involvement and misuse of position for political purposes when he was no longer
in government," he said this week.
He said the DA and other Shaik critics should be concerned about oversight over
intelligence agencies, and not personalities.
"What they should be saying is what is in place to prevent the kind of abuses of
power and resources that emerged during the saga of emails... they are just
worried about Moe Shaik."
He defended Shaik against "unfair" criticism from the DA that his appointment
was a reward for loyalty from Zuma.
"I have said that if I had had the possibility, I would have actually appointed
Moe when I became minister mid-2004... I always had a positive (relationship)
with Moe, by the way. But he left to attend to his brother's affairs... Schabir,"
he said.
Kasrils says he respects Shaik for standing his ground in his support for Zuma
during the succession tussle.
"He is one of the people in that whole period that was 100 percent sure about
(his support for Zuma)... nine out of 10 people during that period just kept
their heads low and were not prepared to show where they were. I don't believe
people should have a problem with me because I did not support the Zuma
candidacy... we (are) past that period," he said.
He said his differences with Shaik in the ANC succession divide were never
personal.
"I believe that he is the best person for the job... I know people are
surprised... I don't hold grudges, I don't believe that we should keep focusing
on divisions of the past," he said.
Kasrils said Shaik's background made him a suitable candidate.
"His record makes him a very serious choice for the taxing job of secret
service... he had... an involvement from the 1970s in the ANC underground and
intelligence work, where he showed his incredible capacity. He played an
outstanding role. He proved himself.
"Post-1990 he was central in the transition in relation to the security
institutions that we were creating... He worked with Laurie Nathan and Fink
Haysom... They were the people who dealt with the security landscape during the
transition. This means Moe Shaik is very well-attuned with what the constitution
speaks and what we expect," he said.
He added that Shaik was the "right-hand man" to former deputy intelligence
minister Joe Nhlanhla during the amalgamation of spy outfits in the early 1990s.
Shaik could not be reached for comment.
With acknowledgements to
Moshoeshoe Monare and Cape Argus.