State Security Minister, Mr David Mahlobo, on 10 April 2015 held a round table discussion with a number of key stakeholders, which included policy analysts and current affairs commentators. This was held under the theme “Perspectives on the Role of Intelligence in a Democracy”, focusing on how South Africa should balance often competing rights of access to information with the obligation to uphold national security, based on the constitution. Minister Mahlobo was supported by State Security Deputy Minister Ellen Molekane and Director-General Sonto Kudjoe, as well as senior management of the State Security Agency.
“The State Security Agency mandate is to secure South Africa’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence, her people, critical infrastructure, assets and interests. We however need to emphasise that human rights and national security are not mutually exclusive,” Minister Mahlobo said in his opening address.
The roundtable discussion was the first of a series that Minister Mahlobo will undertake with various stakeholders within South African society. The purpose of the roundtables is to get South Africans talking about the constitutional responsibility of the State Security Agency, enhance civic awareness and reshape public opinion on key security debates. The Ministry of State Security wants to build partnerships to encourage the development of an educated, informed public and combat misinformation.
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