Former spy boss wants SSA Ramaphosa dossier declassified
Former State Security Agency (SSA) director-general, Arthur Fraser, is pushing for an intelligence file on President Cyril Ramaphosa to be declassified ahead of the former spy boss’ appearance at the state capture commission.
Fraser, though his lawyer Rapulane Kgoroeadira, reportedly wrote to acting SSA director-general Loyiso Jafta on 5 August this year asking for declassification of 41 documents, including the dossier on Ramaphosa.
State capture inquiry
He asked the SSA to furnish him with copies of these documents, which he said he needs to prepare for his “statement and evidence” to the inquiry into state capture.
The letter, which is copied to Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo who chairs the inquiry, was leaked on social media this week.
According to the letter, the file on Ramaphosa contains the president’s “business, political and personal activities and associates.”
Kgoroeadira asked Jafta to provide the documents by 14 August, 2020.
However, he told News24 on Thursday that they had not yet received them.
‘State secrets’
Representing Fraser, Advocate Muzi Sikhakhane told the inquiry in July that his client had been accused of treason based on evidence by former SSA officials Gibson Njenje, Mo Shaik and Mzuvukile Maqethuka.
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Fraser, according to Sikhakhane, had “no choice” but to go against his oath and reveal “state secrets” relating to “presidents” and “judges.”
Sikhakhane said Fraser, currently the National Commissioner of the Department of Correctional Services, would reveal details on “who exactly is subverting our state,” he added.
Kgoroeadira added that Fraser’s testimony is now almost complete, and that the ex-spy boss is ready to assist the inquiry “as a civil servant and as a citizen.”
in 2018, Ramaphosa transferred Fraser from SSA to the Department of Correctional Services.
This followed a stand-off between Fraser and Inspector-General of Intelligence Setlhomamaru Dintwe over the latter’s investigation against Fraser.
Dintwe had been investigating Fraser’s alleged role in the SSA’s Principal Agent Network (PAN), which Fraser allegedly used to benefit several of his family members.
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