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State Security Agency vows to push for prosecution of anyone threatening SA’s democracy

State Security Agency vows to push for prosecution of anyone threatening SA’s democracy
U.S. President Donald Trump walks toward members of the media prior to answering questions before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House. (Photo: Win McNamee / Getty Images)
Caryn Dolley
By Caryn Dolley
13 May 2025
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The SSA is tightening the screws on laws criminalising espionage – and is on the alert for treason, disinformation campaigns and foreign interference. This emerged in Parliament after US President Donald Trump again falsely claimed there is a ‘white farmer genocide’ in SA.

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has made it clear that the State Security Agency (SSA) is on the alert for any disinformation campaigns, foreign meddling and treasonous acts.

It will push for the prosecution of anyone in South Africa who threatens the country’s security.

Ntshavheni said this while answering questions in the National Council of Provinces on Tuesday, 13 May 2025.




Concerns over the United States cropped up during the sitting, and those asking Ntshavheni questions used words including “racist” and “right-wing,” as well as “lunatics” and “civil war.”

People from South Africa have visited the US to detail their stance on issues, including farm murders. Among them were representatives of Afrikaner interest group AfriForum.

kallie kriel AfriForum chief executive Kallie Kriel. (Photo: Supplied)


‘Ideological influences’


Answering questions in Parliament on Tuesday, Ntshavheni said “the State Security Agency is actively monitoring national security risks arising from international political movements and support groups due to concerns about the potential influence on South Africa’s domestic affairs.

“The State Security Agency is vigilant against disinformation campaigns, cyber operations and ideological influences that could destabilise public trust in democratic institutions.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zk8qrbApiek

 

There was also a focus on any movements that could “undermine national security and economic stability”.

Ntshavheni believed the SSA was effective in collecting information relating to the potential destabilisation of the country. “It is for that reason there has not been any incident that has come into play in the country that threatens our sovereignty,” she said.

At this point, Ntshavheni mentioned the US.

SA ‘refugees’ in US ‘not a threat’ 


The day before, on Monday, 12 May 2025, the US had welcomed a group of 59 (although some reports said 49) Afrikaners from South Africa as “refugees”.

On their arrival there, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau provided some details about what they had said they experienced in this country.

“They were really subject to very serious, egregious, and targeted threats, and we wish them well in their journey in the United States,” Landau said.

Read more: ‘We’re sending a clear message’ — US welcomes Afrikaner ‘refugees’ in Washington

In February this year, an executive order by US President Donald Trump offered refuge to “Afrikaners in South Africa who are victims of unjust racial discrimination”.

trump US President Donald Trump. (Photo: Win McNamee / Getty Images)



On 12 May, while addressing journalists and referring to South Africa, Trump said: “It’s a genocide that’s taking place and you people don’t want to write about it…

“Farmers are being killed, they happen to be white.”

Read more: ‘We must be clear there’s no white genocide in SA’, frustrated MPs urge

Ntshavheni, speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, said she was sure that some members would be “tempted to say” that the group of Afrikaners who chose to head to the US were “a threat to national security”.

However, she said: “It’s not a threat to national security. It’s not a threat to national unity and we must continue to applaud the Afrikaner and white community who have said, ‘not in my name’.

“There’s no genocide of white people in South Africa.”

‘Winning the farm murder fight’


Ntshavheni said that statistics relating to farm murders were accurate.

According to official South African Police Service statistics, during the last three months of 2024, there were 12 “farming community” murders recorded in the country.

One of the 12 killed was a farmer.

AfriForum previously contested that figure, saying it should be higher. But on Tuesday, Ntshavheni said the statistics “were correct and accurate as demonstrated to AfriForum”.

She said, “We are winning the fight against farm murders.”

Treason investigation


Daily Maverick previously reported that in February, the uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party filed a complaint of treason against AfriForum, accusing it of lobbying “foreign powers to act against the sovereignty and economic interests of South Africa”.

Ntshavheni, without mentioning AfriForum, said on Tuesday that the police were investigating “treason in terms of the false information being spread”.

Read more: What constitutes treason (and what doesn’t) in South Africa

She later said that “the law enforcement agencies are investigating the treasonous act of misinformation”.

Ntshavheni said: “The constitutional democracy we achieved in 1994 was… the … largest of sacrifices… The transformation agenda of the government [is] to make sure that South Africa belongs to all who live in it, black and white.”

She said that the transformation of South Africa’s economy was being dealt with, and in a manner that ensured it did not pose a threat to any racial grouping in South Africa.

Pushing for prosecution


Ntshavheni reiterated that treasonous acts would not be left unpunished.

“Anyone – whether they are a political structure, whether they are a civil society organisation, or whether they’re individuals – who threatens democracy, who threatens… the security of the state, we will not leave any stone unturned to make sure they are prosecuted,” she said.

Ntshavheni said that in South Africa, the rights of all citizens to engage freely in active civil society were protected.

Read more: SA may have lengthy, perilous road to navigate in order to escape greylisting

However, she said the process that led to the addition of South Africa to the Financial Action Task Force’s grey list, which relates to a country’s ability to combat illicit financial flows, “pointed to weaknesses”. These related to how certain organisations, including nonprofit ones, were being registered and their activities checked. This was being addressed.

Ntshavheni said there were also ongoing efforts to “address inadequate legislation that criminalises espionage”. DM

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