South Africa

Seems I'm not the only one who thinks little Billy stepped out of line with his ridiculous submission to the Khampepe Commission (See previous post). Apparently the Prez. and the Minister of Intelligence Ronnie Kasrils also think Billy went too far :

"Spy chief Billy Masetlha's job is in the balance after his fallout with cabinet over the recent attack by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) on the credibility of the elite investigations unit, the Scorpions. President Thabo Mbeki is said to have been so infuriated by the NIA's claim that the Scorpions were "threatening national security" by working closely with foreign intelligence agencies that he stopped short of giving Masetlha his marching orders this week.

 

Mbeki is said to have been particularly enraged by the naming of people as spies for foreign intelligence agencies in a confidential version of the NIA's submission to the Khampepe Commission... At its meeting on Wednesday, cabinet distanced itself from the NIA's stance. It said in a statement: "Cabinet, however, wishes to distance government from statements, particularly leaks to the media of documents or information with no official standing within government, which seek to question the integrity of officials employed in the DSO and to cast aspersions on co-operation that our institutions have with their international counterparts."

 

City Press has also learnt that the NIA's role at the commission has driven a further wedge between Masetlha and Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils.

Da Prez : "Bad Billy, Bad!! Don't let me catch you doing that again!" (Billy slinks away with his tail between his legs)