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Intelligence Services Act, 2002 (Act No. 65 of 2002)

Regulations

Intelligence Services Regulations, 2014

Chapter I : General Provisions

5. Character of Intelligence

 

 

(1) The Agency must provide evaluated information to ensure the—
(a) safeguarding of the Constitution;
(b) upholding of the individual rights enunciated in the Bill of Rights contained in the Constitution;
(c) promotion of the interrelated elements of security, stability, cooperation and development, both within the Republic of South Africa and in relation to Southern Africa;
(d) achievement of national prosperity whilst making an active contribution to globally defined priorities for the well-being of humankind; and the
(e) promotion of the Republic of South Africa's ability to face foreign threats and enhance its competitiveness in a dynamic world.

 

(2) To fulfil their mandates, the Agency must ensure that intelligence serves to—
(a) provide policy makers with timeous, critical and unique information to warn them of potential risks and dangers;
(b) identify opportunities in the international environment, through assessing real or potential competitors' intentions and capabilities; and to
(c) assist good governance by providing honest and critical intelligence that highlights the weaknesses of government.

 

 

(3) Intelligence must have at least all of the following attributes: accuracy, relevance, predictive capacity, and an element of warning and timeliness.

 

(4) Effective intelligence requires the essential component of secrecy with a need to be sensitive to the interests and values of a democratic society.

 

(5) The Agency must recruit intelligent, competitive and motivated individuals of integrity from all sectors of the South African society to become intelligence officers. This requires a multidisciplinary approach where these officers will be recruited from a diversified pool, and an assurance that the rare skill which these individuals have is retained.

 

(6) The Agency must uphold the principles of integrity, objectivity and credibility. They must strive to be relevant to the maintenance, promotion and protection of national security.

 

(7) The Agency must be loyal to the State and the Constitutional objectives.