Ramaphosa Appoints Imtiaz Fazel As Inspector-General Of Intelligence

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday appointed Imtiaz Fazel as the Inspector-General of Intelligence for a period of five years, following approval by the National Assembly.

"The National Assembly approval followed a public process in which 25 persons applied for the position and 12 were interviewed by the Joint Standing Committee in Intelligence," according to a statement issued by the Presidency of South Africa.

The Intelligence Services Oversight Act mandates the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence (JSCI) to recommend a candidate for approval by at least two-thirds of the National Assembly Members.

"The President has appointed Mr Fazel in accordance with Section 210(b) of the Constitution, read in conjunction with Section 7(1) of the Intelligence Services Oversight Act of 1994," the press release added.

The Inspector-General monitors and reviews the operations of the intelligence services, including the State Security Agency, the Defence Intelligence Division of the South African National Defence Force and the Crime Intelligence Division of the South African Police Service.

Fazel is a former Chief Operating Officer – at the level of Deputy Director-General - in the Office of the Inspector-General of Intelligence and a former Deputy Director-General in the Office of the Director-General of the State Security Agency.

Fazel was nominated by parliament after the first choice candidate Frank Chikane, former director general in the presidency, was rejected by the house in June, Mail and Guardian reported.