The DA’s bid to access intelligence reports related to the July unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng has been rejected.

The State Security Agency has accused the opposition party of jumping the gun. It says the Office of the President and Parliament are investigating the circumstances that led to the unrest and government’s response to it.

This comes as there were serious failings by the country’s intelligence entities and contradictory utterances made by government during the unrest. A case in point the State Security Minister, Ayanda Dlodlo claiming that they had handed over intelligence information in the lead up to the violence and looting to law enforcement officials. But Police Minister, Bheki Cele denied this.

Dlodlo was subsequently demoted to minster of Public Service and Administration and the Ministry of State Security was disbanded.

[Picture: GCIS]