Ramaphosa suspends Inspector-General of Intelligence Imtiaz Fazel with immediate effect

Bulelwa Hoala

President Ramaphosa has suspended Inspector-General of Intelligence Imtiaz Fazel with immediate effect.
The suspension follows a complaint and ongoing investigation by Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence (JSCI).
Action was taken under Section 7(5) of the Intelligence Services Act, which allows the president to suspend the Inspector-General pending investigation.

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday, 15 October 2025, suspended Inspector-General of Intelligence Imtiaz Fazel with immediate effect.

The suspension follows a complaint received by Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence (JSCI) regarding Fazel’s conduct.

Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya confirmed that the JSCI informed the president about the pending investigation.

“The JSCI has informed President Ramaphosa that it has received a complaint on the conduct of the Inspector-General and that the committee will conduct an investigation in line with section 7(4) and 7(5) of the Intelligence Services Act (Act 40 of 1994),” Magwenya said.

According to Magwenya, under Section 7(5) of the Act, the President may suspend the Inspector-General while the JSCI conducts its investigation.

“If the Inspector-General is the subject of an investigation by the (JSCI) in terms of subsection (4), he or she may be suspended by the President pending a decision in such investigation”, the Act reads.