Inspector-General of Intelligence Suspended Over Pending Parliamentary Probe

The Inspector-General of Intelligence is one of the most powerful oversight authorities in South Africa’s national security architecture.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has suspended Inspector-General of Intelligence Imtiaz Fazel with immediate effect, following the launch of an investigation by Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence (JSCI) into allegations concerning his conduct.

The Presidency confirmed the suspension on Wednesday, citing compliance with the Intelligence Services Oversight Act (Act 40 of 1994), which empowers the President to suspend the Inspector-General when they are the subject of a parliamentary investigation.

Legal Basis for the Suspension

According to Section 7(4) and 7(5) of the Intelligence Services Oversight Act, the JSCI is authorized to investigate complaints related to the conduct or performance of the Inspector-General of Intelligence (IGI). Section 7(5) explicitly provides that the President may suspend the IGI while such an inquiry is underway.

“Mr Fazel has been suspended with immediate effect,” the Presidency said in an official statement, noting that the decision follows formal notification from the JSCI that a complaint had been lodged and an investigation was being initiated.

The nature of the complaint against Fazel has not yet been disclosed publicly. The JSCI is expected to conduct its investigation in accordance with parliamentary procedures and report its findings and recommendations to the President once the inquiry concludes.

Role and Responsibilities of the Inspector-General

The Inspector-General of Intelligence is one of the most powerful oversight authorities in South Africa’s national security architecture. The role is mandated by law to monitor and review the activities of all state intelligence structures — including the State Security Agency (SSA), the Defence Intelligence Division of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), and the Crime Intelligence Division of the South African Police Service (SAPS).

The Inspector-General is tasked with ensuring that intelligence operations are conducted lawfully, ethically, and within the bounds of the Constitution. This includes protecting citizens’ rights to privacy, preventing abuse of surveillance powers, and ensuring transparency and accountability in the intelligence community.

The position also plays a crucial role in reporting intelligence misconduct or political interference, and its occupant must remain independent of government influence to maintain public trust in the country’s security oversight mechanisms.

Fazel’s Appointment and Background

Imtiaz Fazel was appointed as South Africa’s Inspector-General of Intelligence in November 2022, following a rigorous parliamentary approval process. His five-year term was set to end in October 2027.

Before his appointment, Fazel served in several senior government roles, including acting Director-General in the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) and Chief Operating Officer in the Office of the Inspector-General for Intelligence. His background in public administration and oversight was seen as an asset to the intelligence watchdog office, which had been vacant for several years prior to his appointment.

At the time of his selection, members of Parliament praised Fazel for his “professional integrity” and experience, emphasizing the need for stability and accountability in the intelligence sector following previous leadership controversies within the SSA.

Context: Strengthening Oversight and Accountability

Fazel’s suspension comes at a time when South Africa’s intelligence community is undergoing renewed scrutiny and reform, following recommendations made by the High-Level Review Panel on the State Security Agency in 2018. That report, commissioned by President Ramaphosa, identified serious governance lapses, politicization, and misuse of intelligence resources during previous administrations.

Since then, the Presidency and Parliament have worked to strengthen intelligence oversight mechanisms and rebuild public confidence in state security institutions. The Office of the Inspector-General has been viewed as a cornerstone of that reform effort.

Analysts have noted that Fazel’s suspension, though procedural, underscores the importance of transparent oversight and due process within intelligence structures — institutions that often operate behind closed doors but wield significant influence over national security and civil liberties.

The Way Forward

Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence will now proceed with its investigation in line with its statutory mandate. Once the committee concludes its inquiry, it will submit a report to the President, who will determine the appropriate course of action based on its findings.

Until the matter is resolved, the Office of the Inspector-General may continue its operations under acting leadership, ensuring that intelligence oversight remains uninterrupted.

Neither the Presidency nor the JSCI has provided a timeline for the completion of the investigation, and both have declined to comment further pending the outcome.

The suspension represents a rare but significant step in ensuring accountability within South Africa’s security apparatus — reaffirming, according to the Presidency, the government’s commitment to transparency, rule of law, and institutional integrity in the intelligence sector.