Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has dismissed allegations that the State Security Agency (SSA) is forcing employees over 50-years-old to take early retirement or face dismissal.

Ntshavheni was responding to a Parliamentary question posed by Democratic Alliance (DA) Member of Parliament (MP) Dianne Kohler Barnard.

Kohler Barnard asked about the alleged directive requiring the SSA staff over 50-years-old to take early retirement or face dismissal for operational reasons or retrenchments.

She also inquired how the dismissal or early retirement of senior SSA staff would help South Africa in being removed from the Financial Action Task Force grey list.

Kohler Barnard further asked what criteria were used to determine that 50-years-old should be the age for SSA staff to retire.

Additionally, she sought information on the SSA’s current staff contingent, including how many have Top Secret Security clearances, and how many have passed their compulsory five-year vetting.

In a written response, Ntshavheni explained that the SSA does not have a directive mandating employees over 50 must take "compulsory" early retirement or face dismissal.

“The SSA is implementing a voluntary severance package (VSP) in line with the Government Early Retirement Programme as announced by the Minister of Finance in the 2024 Medium Term Budget Policy Statement,” she said.

Ntshavheni said the process will assist the SSA to address the skills and competency gaps as identified in a recent completed skills audit and competencies assessments.

It will also address the professionalisation of the agency, as recommended in the High-Level Review Panel Report, she said.

“The VSP process will have no impact on the work currently under way to address the outstanding FATF targets,” she said.

On the security clearance, Ntshavheni revealed that SSA holds valid clearances, and 9% are currently being re-vetted.

She added that the re-vetting of SSA members is an ongoing process, with clearances expiring at different times.

“The SSA has addressed the vetting backlog and is now in the process of implementing a re-vetting plan to ensure that re-vetting be conducted six months before the clearance expires,” Ntshavheni said.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

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State Security Agency's retirement package voluntary, says Presidency Minister