{
  "id": 16967252,
  "title": "PROJECT MAYIBUYE: SSA operation targeting EFF lacked national security basis, court told",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/project-mayibuye-ssa-operation-targeting-eff-lacked-national-security",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-28T22:28:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Maverick",
    "slug": "daily-maverick",
    "url": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-10-28-ssa-operation-targeting-eff-lacked-national-security-basis-court-told/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A former State Security Agency (SSA) official testified that Project Mayibuye, a secret operation targeting the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), lacked any basis in national security, according to the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria. Mr. D, whose identity is protected by a court order, testified about the 2015 operation, which prosecutors claim was used to gather intelligence on the EFF and exploit divisions within the party. The EFF was targeted despite no indication that the party posed a threat to national security, the court heard. The case involves two former SSA officials, Thulani \"Silence\" Dlomo and Patrick Mshothola, accused of fraud and theft involving R12-million allegedly channeled through Project Mayibuye. The plaintiffs, the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC), argue that the operation was unlawful because it was not properly authorized. The EFF has vowed to open a criminal case against those involved and lodge a complaint with the Inspector-General of Intelligence.",
  "summary": "Project Mayibuye should have been stopped before it started. Instead, the Gauteng High Court heard, the secret State Security Agency operation went ahead, targeted the EFF and had millions channelled through it.",
  "key_points": [
    "Project Mayibuye, a secret SSA operation, targeted EFF in 2015",
    "Court heard EFF posed no national security threat",
    "Two former SSA officials accused of fraud and theft involving R12-million"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}