Spy Bill gets over first hurdle to becoming law after National Assembly gives its stamp of approval

The controversial General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill (GILAB) is one step closer to becoming law.

Last month, the National Assembly passed the bill, which provides for changes to the National Strategic Intelligence Act, the Intelligence Services Act, and the Intelligence Services Oversight Act.

The GILAB is meant to address the failings of the State Security Agency (SSA) during the excesses of the former president Jacob Zuma era, as highlighted by the High-Level Review Panel, chaired by former safety and security minister Sydney Mufamadi, which found that the SSA had "become a parallel intelligence structure serving a faction of the ruling party and, in particular, the personal political interests of the sitting president of the party and country".