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Vol 48 No 19

Published 21st September 2007


Zimbabwe

The banishing of Billy

Influence over the intelligence services has become a crucial front in the African National Congress’s succession battle. The biggest casualty so far has been the former Director of the National Intelligence Agency, Billy Masetlha, who claims he was fired by President Thabo Mbeki and Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils, because he was seen as too close to sacked Vice-President and leadership contender Jacob Zuma. Now Masetlha accuses Mbeki of lying under oath, a charge which could precipitate a constitutional crisis. Masetlha himself faces charges in the Hatfield Community Court in Tshwane of contravening the Intelligence Services Oversight Act by withholding evidence from intelligence Inspector General Zolile Ngcakani about the surveillance of businessman Saki Macozoma. Kasrils, Ngcakani and Macozoma are all close to Mbeki.

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