Durban - Employees at the SABC offices in Durban have complained about National Intelligence Agency (NIA) “spies” who, for two weeks, conducted mysterious activities in the offices of its regional managers.
A cryptic answer given by the NIA to inquiries from The Mercury only added to the intrigue.
SABC employees have written to their chief executive officer, Frans Matlala, demanding an explanation about the activities at their offices.
The Broadcast Electronic Media and Allied Workers’ Union’s (Bemawu) president, Hannes du Buisson, said he wrote the letter on behalf of the workers who were members of his union, on Monday.
He said strangers would come into the Durban office on KE Masinga Road (Old Fort) and introduce themselves as NIA operatives. He said this had happened every day for two weeks until last Wednesday.
“They only targeted eight offices of the members of the regional management committee, including human resources, security, news, airtime sales and Ukhozi FM managers,” he said.
Brian Dube, the head of communications at the State Security Agency (under which the NIA falls), said the agency did not talk about its activities, including those which had been taking place at the SABC.
But he said the public broadcaster should explain what led to the activities. He said from time to time, government departments and public entities invited the agency to assist with various activities.
“The SABC should explain to its employees what is it that the SABC itself has done in the past which might have involved an agency like ourselves.”
Attempts to contact SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago were unsuccessful and he did not respond to questions sent to him via SMS, while his cellphone rang unanswered.
Du Buisson said the strangers, much to the consternation of staff, would walk into an office and ask its occupant step outside. “They would then close themselves inside and stay for two to three hours. When they came out, they would not explain what they were doing,” he said.
He said most of the managers whose offices were targeted were union members.
An SABC employee, who asked not to be named, confirmed the visits by operatives:
“Last week, they came into the newsroom and requested the secretary (of one of the managers) leave the office. They said they had come to check if the office was not bugged. They stayed in the office for two hours.”
Du Buisson said the managers approached SABC regional manager Zamambo Mkhize seeking an explanation. Mkhize apologised without giving an explanation.
“Now the managers are concerned that their offices might be bugged by the NIA. Their private conversations would be listened to. Maybe someone would be monitoring their activities. They are concerned that maybe their computers have been opened and information taken,” said Du Buisson.
In the letter, Du Buisson said the Durban staff had been warned that they would be fired if they talked about the NIA activities in the building.
“Employees are extremely uncomfortable with what is happening, as they are not sure whether secret surveillance equipment is installed in their offices, and if so, why this is happening and necessary?” he wrote. “We do not see any reason for the NIA to lock employees out of their offices, remaining inside alone. The SABC is a workplace, not a law enforcement agency or some secret organisation where NIA agents have free reign.”
Du Buisson asked that the “secret” operation be stopped and the purpose and intent be communicated to staff.
“We also want an explanation as to why the NIA finds it necessary to put employees out of their offices, invading their privacy and workspace, where they spent the majority of the day and a substantial time of their lives.” He said Matlala had not yet responded.
The Mercury