It’s spy v spy in SA-Russia saga

Screen grabs from a one and a half minute youtube clip that suggests a version of Wikileaks that applies to South Africa and points out some of the challenges the S.A. government has faced and attempt to assassinate an African Union leader and is compiled with information from various intelligence agencies. It is an Aljazeera series called “Spy cables” and will cover espionage activities from 2006 to December 2014. Pictures: Youtube

Screen grabs from a one and a half minute youtube clip that suggests a version of Wikileaks that applies to South Africa and points out some of the challenges the S.A. government has faced and attempt to assassinate an African Union leader and is compiled with information from various intelligence agencies. It is an Aljazeera series called “Spy cables” and will cover espionage activities from 2006 to December 2014. Pictures: Youtube

Published Feb 27, 2015

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Cape Town - South African intelligence agencies appear to be spying on each other in Russia, according to a top-secret report from the State Security Agency (SSA), which is among the many classified documents leaked to Al Jazeera. The report says the SSA is relying on an agent in Russia for details of a joint satellite surveillance project between the two countries.

Al Jazeera reports on Friday on its website that the 2012 SSA cable says Russia and South Africa are working to develop a satellite that will place South Africa “in a position to conduct its own aerial surveillance in Africa, potentially right up to Israel, for strategic military purposes”.

“Military intelligence has reportedly spearheaded the project, but appears to have kept its civilian partner, the State Security Agency, in the dark. As a result, the SSA is relying on an ‘Agent Africanist with direct access to the Russia government’ for details.” The network says the August 21, 2012 top-secret memo records information provided by “Agent Africanist”.

It says the spy identified two “key role-players” in the scheme known as Project Condor: a Russian official and former head of SA military intelligence General Maomela “Mojo” Motau. After his retirement, Motau became chairman of Armscor before being dismissed and losing a legal battle for his reinstatement.

“There are 30 Russian technicians working in South Africa in close cooperation with South African authorities on the project,” the document says.

“In conjunction with Condor, Russia is simultaneously working on its own satellite programme to be launched some time after Condor. The aim is to eventually integrate the two satellite systems and capabilities, providing wider strategic coverage with obvious benefits for both countries.”

DA MP and defence spokesman David Maynier has uncovered a similar programme to launch a Russian Kondor-E earth observation satellite under the codenames Project Flute and Project Consolidated Flute. The details are very similar and may refer to the same project.

The satellite has now been launched, according to a report by Russian news agency ITAR-TASS. It said a Kondor-E satellite had been sent into space “in the interests of a foreign customer”, which Maynier believes is South Africa.

“It’s been very difficult, given the fact that this is a top-secret or secret defence intelligence project, to really get any information” Maynier is quoted as saying. Project Flute began “some time in 2006, 2007” and had a budget in the region of $100 million, according to Maynier and other reports. However, there is no public accounting for how that money was spent.

“One of the primary drivers behind the lack of transparency,” Maynier alleges, “has got to do with the fact that what government is hiding, in fact, is a massive procurement irregularity”.

But Al Jazeera says the South African government has ducked the allegation. Defence Secretary Sam Gulube revealed to Parliament in October last year that a contract for a “military satellite” existed and was “on track”.

Maynier says the deal was signed “outside all government procurement legislation and regulations”.

Former secretary of defence January Masilela launched an investigation into Project Flute in December 2006. The investigation was conducted, although its results were never published. Masilela was killed in a car accident in 2008, and Maynier speculates that his death may part of a cover-up. Police did not record Masilela’s death as suspicious.

Independent Foreign Media

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