PRETORIA - Who guards the guardians?
This question was reflected at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, where, as Acting Coordinator of the National Intelligence Coordinating Committee, Dr Ntandazo Sifolo took the stand on Thursday.
Sifolo, who testified at the commission, said intelligence agencies and the watchdogs who monitor them must follow the law and act responsibly.
"Quis custodial ipsos custody, who will guard the guards themselves? The enduring importance of this question lies in its insistence that those entrusted with authority must themselves remain subject to scrutiny.
“For intelligence institutions, this is particularly significant because secrecy, although sometimes operationally indispensable, can also create conditions in which wrongdoing escapes detection. The existence of independent oversight institutions, Parliamentary accountability, lawful investigative processes, and a vigilant media is therefore essential,” Sifolo testified.
According to Sifilo, questions must also be understood in their broader constitutional context.
He said if those who guard the republic must be held accountable, then institutions exercising oversight and public scrutiny must themselves remain faithful to the constitution, the law, and the responsibilities accompanying their authority.
“The question is not who should be exempted from accountability. It is our accountability can be exercised without destroying the very public interest it is intended to protect.”
In his testimony, Sifolo also cautioned against exploitation of the media.
This as he claimed media can be used to manipulate public opinion and undermine national security.
He called on journalists to look beyond whether leaked classified information is authentic or newsworthy, and consider who stands to benefit from its release.