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Spy allegations bug South Africa
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The South African Government is facing questions following two high-level allegations of spying - one from the German embassy, and the other from the opposition Democratic Party.
The authorities have launched an investigation after the discovery of a surveillance camera fitted in a tree outside the German embassy in Pretoria.
A senior police officer said the camera was removed by a bomb disposal unit.
Intelligence Services Minister Joe Nhlanhla denies suggestions that the South African secret service may have been involved in spying on a trading partner.
"I and my government view this incident in a very serious light, as the relationship between South Africa and Germany is very good. There also exists very good relations between our respective intelligence services," the statement said.
But speaking on SABC public radio, Mr Nhlanhla said it was wrong to assume that the surveillance was necessarily carried out by the National Intelligence Agency.
"I remain concerned at the ease with which people jumped to the conclusion that the NIA was involved in illegal intelligence gathering," the minister said.
A South African foreign affairs spokesman said the matter was being investigated at senior diplomatic levels.
The German embassy said it could not comment on security issues.
Parliamentary office bugged
Democratic Party chief whip Douglas Gibson said that a report by an independent security consultant had revealed that several party offices in Cape Town were under 24-hour electronic surveillance.
The offices include the party's caucus committee room at parliament, the chief whip's office, the party's national headquarters and Western Cape regional office.
The party has demanded an explanation from Mr Nhlanhla, saying it will consult its lawyers if the minister does not provide a court order authorising the surveillance of the offices.
"The infringement of the DP's right to privacy is a serious violation of an important constitutional right," Mr Gibson said in a statement.
He said that while there was no proof of government involvement in surveillance, the DP believed Mr Nhlanhla would know more about the matter than the party did.
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03 Jun 99 | Africa |
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Democratic Party return from the wilderness |
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