Johannesburg - The future of the new inspector-general of intelligence hangs in the balance after months of stalling in Parliament to back the ANC candidate for the top job in the world of spooks.
The ANC endorsed its ex-MP Cecil Burgess for the position but his appointment fell through due to insufficient numbers in Parliament to support him.
The inspector-general must receive a two-thirds majority in Parliament for him to be appointed.
The ANC said on Monday the matter remained on the agenda of Parliament, but did not commit on the new date.
It said there was still a lot of work to be done with other parties to reach consensus on the candidate.
Burgess was an ANC MP for a number of years and chaired key committees in Parliament during his tenure.
One of the committees he chaired was the ad hoc committee on the Protection of State Information Bill. The committee was processing this controversial bill, dubbed the Secrecy Bill.
The bill has remained on President Jacob Zuma’s desk for more than a year after parties objected to its approval by Parliament and urged Zuma not to sign it into law.
ANC chief whip Stone Sizani’s spokesman, Moloto Mothapo, said there was still no consensus on the candidate for the position of inspector-general.
The position has been vacant since March this year, when Faith Radebe’s term as the inspector-general came to an end.
However, Burgess’s appointment by the ANC in June did not garner the required two-thirds majority in Parliament for approval.
Mothapo said it was difficult to know whether the matter would be back on the agenda before the end of the year.
“There is still a lot of work to be done as there still needs to be consensus on the candidate among political parties in Parliament,” said Mothapo.
He said thorough consultation among political parties would have to take place.
Opposition parties were opposed to Burgess’s candidacy from day one, arguing he had strong ANC ties and was also chairman of the ad hoc committee on the Protection of State Information Bill.
They argued an inspector-general of intelligence would have to be insulated from parties in Parliament.
Mothapo said it was difficult to tell if the matter would be resolved before the end of the year. This is despite the fact that Radebe’s term ended six months ago and a new spy chief was needed.
The Star