“The South African intelligence community was rocked by a high-level scandal relating to the misuse of position and power and allegations of the subversion of the national
intelligence apparatus to personal and group political interest in 2005. A brief analysis of the outcomes of the Project Avani scandal reveals the following fundamental gaps in the
oversight and governance of the intelligence sector: A lack of sufficient preventative and proactive controls on politically sensitive operations. A lack of sufficient control on the use of intrusive methods of investigation. Insufficient control of operational protocols. The continued politicisation of domestic intelligence operations and the potential for misuse of authority in the conduct of political intelligence operations. Flaws in the practice of having a senior intelligence official serving in two posts.”
