Inspector-General of Intelligence (IGI) Imtiaz Fazel faces a parliamentary probe following a complaint that led to his suspension by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Police authorities have remained silent over claims that Fazel was suspended after allegedly leaking investigation reports implicating National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola and Crime Intelligence head Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo.
President Ramaphosa announced on Wednesday that Fazel, who was appointed in November 2022, had been suspended with immediate effect. He did not provide reasons for the decision but said the suspension would remain in effect pending a parliamentary investigation into Fazel’s conduct.
The Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence (JSCI) informed Ramaphosa that it had received a complaint about Fazel and would investigate the matter in line with the Intelligence Services Act.
The Act allows the president to suspend the Inspector-General if they are the subject of an investigation by the JSCI pending a decision on the outcome.
Dr. Jean Redpath, a senior researcher at the Dullah Omar Institute’s Africa Criminal Justice Reform programme at the University of the Western Cape, described the suspension as concerning.
“The Intelligence Services Oversight Act says the president may suspend the IGI if there is an investigation by the JSCI towards his removal from office, and the grounds on which he can be removed are misconduct, incapacity, withdrawal of security clearance, poor performance, or incompetence,” Redpath explained.
She added that while it was unclear which grounds were being investigated, speculation suggested it related to the leaking of Fazel’s recommendations for disciplinary action and prosecution against Masemola and Khumalo. The allegations concern the purchase of properties at inflated prices in KwaZulu-Natal for the Crime Intelligence Division.
Earlier this month, it was reported that Fazel recommended criminal charges against Masemola and Khumalo for authorising the purchase of five properties worth more than R120.7 million through the Crime Intelligence’s secret service account.
Redpath noted that it would be difficult to determine the source of the leak since the JSCI comprises several members and staff.
“Any of the members of the committee could possibly have been responsible, but remember also there are staff in the committee. It’s going to be a task to uncover where the leak came from,” she said.
Redpath also highlighted that another individual who made allegations against Khumalo was swiftly prosecuted in a specialised commercial crimes court.
“For ordering a catering meal without proper authorisation, which is not normally something that would go through the specialised commercial crimes court. The prosecution didn’t succeed but was quickly taken on appeal. It seems one has to be squeaky clean if one is going to make any allegations of any sort,” she said.
Former ANC MP and previous JSCI chairperson Jerome Maake, who led the committee when it recommended Fazel’s appointment, said it would be inappropriate for him to comment on the suspension.
Current JSCI chairperson Sylvia Izaks and Fazel did not respond to questions on Friday, while national police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe also did not respond to requests for comment on Saturday.
Fazel secured his appointment in 2022 after beating 10 other candidates, including ANC veteran Reverend Frank Chikane and his predecessor, Dr. Setlhomamaru Dintwe. Chikane was the ANC’s preferred choice but failed to gain the required parliamentary support due to opposition parties’ concerns over his age and ties to the ANC.
A chartered accountant by profession, Fazel previously served as acting director-general of Public Works and as deputy director-general in the Office of the Director-General of the State Security Agency. He also held the position of acting chief operating officer in the Office of the IGI and worked as a consultant in the Ministry of Intelligence in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
