A government-commissioned report has accused former South African president Jacob Zuma of exploiting the State Security Agency (SSA) for personal and political gain, particularly in efforts to undermine his successor Cyril Ramaphosa.
The 100-page document, released under President Ramaphosa's directive, outlines grave violations of constitutional and legal frameworks by Zuma during his 2009-2018 presidency. It details how the SSA allegedly infiltrated opposition networks within the African National Congress (ANC) ahead of Ramaphosa's 2017 leadership election and subsequent 2018 presidential inauguration.
The report, compiled by a panel led by former minister Sydney Mufamadi, claims the SSA became a tool for political manipulation, with allegations of internal corruption and misuse of resources. It specifically notes the agency's role in penetrating leadership structures opposing Zuma's tenure.
Zuma denied the accusations, stating on social media that he had not engaged in any improper dealings with intelligence services. "I have never sold out nor written letters" to security agencies, he asserted, warning against "opening a can of worms" that could have unintended consequences.
President Ramaphosa condemned the politicization of intelligence institutions, calling for structural reforms including a potential split of the SSA into domestic and foreign service branches. His office emphasized the need to restore constitutional compliance within security agencies.
The opposition Democratic Alliance demanded immediate suspensions of SSA personnel implicated in the report and urged law enforcement to pursue criminal charges against those responsible.
