Zuma’s ‘Superspy’ Arrested in Major State Capture Breakthrough

Key Takeaways

• Thulani "Silence" Dlomo and Patrick Mshotholo have been arrested and charged with theft, fraud, forgery, and uttering involving about R12-million.
• The accused were granted R20,000 bail and the matter was postponed to 26 January 2026.
• The Zondo Commission’s final report found that former minister of state security David Mahlobo "not only involved himself in operations, but also directed them".
• The commission also found that there had been a serious politicisation and factionalisation of the intelligence community based on tensions in the ANC.
• Dlomo operated under the supervision of former SSA DG Arthur Fraser and former minister of state security David Mahlobo.

Introduction to the Scandal
Thulani "Silence" Dlomo, the former Deputy Director of Counterintelligence in the State Security Agency (SSA), and Patrick Mshotholo, the project manager of the Directorate of Special Operations (DSO), have been arrested and charged with theft, fraud, forgery, and uttering involving about R12-million. The two accused appeared in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Pretoria on 1 December 2025 after they were arrested by the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (Idac). The matter was postponed to 26 January 2026, and the accused were granted R20,000 bail.

The "Superspy" and His Operations
Dlomo, a former ambassador to Japan, was recalled by President Cyril Ramaphosa after damning findings in the High-Level Panel Review into the intelligence services, released in December 2018. The review found that Dlomo had operated variously under the supervision of former SSA DG Arthur Fraser, who is still to face charges, and former minister of state security David Mahlobo, currently an ANC deputy minister. The Zondo Commission’s final report also found that Mahlobo "not only involved himself in operations, but also directed them". These projects included Project Wave, an attempt to infiltrate the media, as well as other covert operations to spy on NGOs, the judiciary, and students.

Factionalisation of Intelligence
The Zondo Commission heard that Project Veza, an investigation into the SSA’s operations from 2012 to 2018, found that various projects initiated by Dlomo and the Special Operations Unit "were established in breach of the SSA’s policy and regulatory prescripts". These included illegal surveillance and the unaccounted squandering of about R1.5-billion of public funds. The commission also found that there had been a serious politicisation and factionalisation of the intelligence community based on tensions in the ANC, "resulting in an almost complete disregard for the Constitution, legislation, policy, and other prescripts". Dlomo was a key figure in this politicisation and factionalisation.

Weaponisation of Intelligence
In 2014, Mahlobo requested the Inspector General of Intelligence, Faith Radebe, to conduct an investigation into the intelligence services after fake reports about a SARS "rogue unit" first appeared in the Sunday Times. Radebe released two classified reports, one of which was later made public by impeached former Public Protector Busiswe Mkhwebane. The report was shamelessly weaponised by Mkhwebane as well as EFF leader Julius Malema. The Zondo Commission found that apart from the normal vetting system of the SSA, Dlomo had established "an unlawful parallel vetting system" which created "a potential danger to national security".

Nasrec and Beyond
A witness at the Zondo Commission, who testified anonymously, said under oath that she was a member of the SSA and that she had been used "to assist at the ANC Nasrec Conference". She had withdrawn a subsistence allowance for her services, and the commission said her employment pointed to the "intelligence services rendering financial and other assistance to the ruling party in connection with its Nasrec conference". This is just one example of the SSA’s involvement in ANC politics.

History of Intelligence Abuse
The abuse of intelligence in South Africa has a long history. When old NIA comrades Mo Shaik, Gibson Njenje, and Jeff Maqetuka became concerned about the Gupta brothers’ growing empire, they went to then-president Zuma, to alert him. However, Zuma swiftly got rid of the intelligence trio and fired the head of GCIS, Themba Maseko, for refusing to kowtow to the Guptas. Zuma had phoned Maseko at the time and had advised in isiZulu: "My brother, there are these Gupta guys who need to meet you and who need your help. Please help them and see what you can do to help them." Maseko, when he refused, was fired, only to be replaced by Mzwanele Manyi, the man who would later "buy" the Gupta media empire ANN7.

Conclusion
In conclusion, the arrest of Thulani "Silence" Dlomo and Patrick Mshotholo is just the latest example of the politicisation and factionalisation of the intelligence community in South Africa. The Zondo Commission’s final report found that there had been a serious abuse of intelligence resources and that the SSA had been involved in various covert operations to spy on NGOs, the judiciary, and students. The commission also found that Dlomo had established an unlawful parallel vetting system which created a potential danger to national security. As the case against Dlomo and Mshotholo continues, it is clear that the SSA has a long way to go in restoring its credibility and integrity.