Rogue Spying - South Africa's Crisis Of Accountability In The State Intelligence Sector (Paperback)

A book that analyses persistent rogue intelligence practices in post-apartheid South Africa, situating them within global security dynamics and exploring pathways to accountability through advocacy, journalism and the law.

In South Africa’s democracy, the civilian intelligence agency’s power has been weaponised to spy on political rivals, the media and civil society, while oversight institutions largely falter. As inquiries into Jacob Zuma’s presidency open doors for intelligence reform, Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration has, at important moments, offered superficial fixes, entrenching state control.

Rogue Spying exposes this betrayal of public trust, tracing its roots to historical conflicts and international drivers. With authoritarian nationalism on the rise globally, powerful nations fuel a lawless surveillance race, threatening democratic freedoms worldwide – South Africa included.

Drawing on exclusive interviews, declassified documents, and the author’s intrepid activism, this account reveals how whistleblowers, journalists, and advocates have fought for accountability through mass mobilisation, investigations and strategic litigation.

Rogue Spying is a clarion call. It offers learnings and explores strategies to demand accountability and rein in intelligence, ensuring it serves the public, not power.