04 Apr 2016

The Directorate of Intelligence and Security wishes to advise members of the public to treat the story appearing in yesterday’s Sunday Standard newspaper titled “Gaolothe flees home following assassination threat” [Sunday Standard April 03 – 09, 2016 page1] as just the latest in an array of sensational and misleading media reports that have perpetuated falsehoods, myths and stereotypes about the directorate and its work. 

It is unfortunate and disappointing that some media houses are bent on misleading their readers in a bid to influence or propagandise debate over certain issues and skew public opinion. 

This is a tremendous disservice to unsuspecting readers and members of the public and it negatively impacts on the quality of discourse that often relies on their stories.

As it is the duty of the DIS to protect public safety, the allegations in the story were investigated and these have been found to be fabrications by a known journalist at Sunday Standard who has been peddling false rumours about plans to assassinate Mr Ndaba Gaolathe and the existence of so-called rogue security intelligence operatives within the Directorate who are supposedly too independent and too powerful for their political masters. 

The public should ignore unsubstantiated reports that are clearly intended to instil fear. 

The DIS is manned by professional staff who discharge their duties professionally and impartially within the provisions of the Intelligence and Security Service Act 2007 and guidance from institutions responsible for providing oversight, which include, the Parliamentary Accounts Committee (PAC), Parliamentary Committee on Intelligence and Security, the Tribunal and the Intelligence and Security Council. 

The Directorate, carrying out its mandate in line with the Act, has unearthed and continue to track and apprehend organized criminal syndicates involved in, motor vehicle theft, poaching, illegal diamond dealing, human trafficking and smuggling, money laundering, fraud, drug trafficking, corruption, terrorism, to mention but a few. 

Members of the public can rest assured that no amount of rumour mongering will derail the Directorate from performing its functions as outlined in the Intelligence and Security Service Act. Ends