Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele is now in charge of the State Security Agency.
“President Cyril Ramaphosa has, in terms of Section 209(2) of the Constitution, designated Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele to assume political responsibility for the control and direction of the State Security Agency,” said the statement announcing the development on Monday.
“This is in line with his announcement of 5 August 2021 that the Ministry of State Security would be done away with and political responsibility for the State Security Agency would reside in the Presidency.”
In the Cabinet reshuffle following the deadly July unrest that left more than 300 people dead, State Security Minister Ayanda Dlodlo was moved back to her previous role as public service and administration minister.
The statement on Monday explained that section 209(2) of the constitution, which addresses the governance of intelligence services, empowers the president to assume political responsibility for intelligence services other than those of the police or national defence force, or to designate a member of Cabinet to assume this responsibility.
“The president has assigned responsibility for the State Security Agency to Minister Gungubele, who is a Cabinet member, while Deputy Minister Zizi Kodwa continues to serve as deputy minister,” said the statement.
The added responsibility comes ahead of Gungubele’s birthday at the beginning of next month when he turns 65.
