Ramaphosa suspends crime intelligence watchdog Imtiaz Fazel amid conduct probe

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has suspended Inspector-General of Intelligence, Imtiaz Fazel, with immediate effect, pending the outcome of a formal investigation by Parliament's Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence (JSCI).

- KAMOGELO MOICHELA [e-mail]

The presidency confirmed this in an official statement on Wednesday night.

According to the statement, the JSCI recently notified Ramaphosa that it had received a complaint regarding Fazel's conduct and would launch an inquiry under Section 7(4) of the Intelligence Services Act (Act 40 of 1994).

In line with Section 7(5) of the Act, the President holds the authority to suspend the inspector-general during the course of such an investigation.