Spy chief Billy Masetlha: let the truth be told

FAROUK Araie’s overzealous adulation of Billy Masetlha in his recent letter needs a response.

Masetlha was fired by then president Thabo Mbeki in 2006 as director-general of the National Intelligence Agency. His downfall was the result of many issues: the hoax emails that claimed intelligence minister Ronnie Kasrils was associated with MI6; the fabricated intelligence reports of 1997; and Masetlha accusing Mbeki of lying to save his job (Mbeki accused some of his intelligence agents of “manufacturing intelligence” and lying in order to please him).

Intelligence inspector-general

Zolile Ngcakani blamed Masetlha for “authorising the unlawful surveillance of ANC executive Saki Macozoma.” Also, Masetlha abused intelligence and state resources for personal or political gain. He accused the Scorpions of colluding with foreign intelligence. He was accused of fomenting division in the intelligence and security agencies. He was forced to quit Home Affairs after his spat with former minister Mangosuthu Buthelezi.

Billy Masetlha was no paragon of virtue. The excerpts stated above were taken from Moshoeshoe Monare’s The rise and fall of spy chief Billy Masetlha.