Authored by: Brian Gezani Ndhlovu

Had the path of seizing power through the gun been pursued, many comrades would have perished due to intelligence provided by enemies worldwide. The exposure of spies is not always a matter of discovery but often a result of external intelligence. At times, individuals are targeted not for their actual affiliations but due to personal biases or internal factional battles.

There is no doubt that South African liberation movements faced significant infiltration, especially during the Cold War, where South Africa found itself trapped between the Eastern Bloc and the Western Bloc.

#LiberationStruggle #Infiltration

Among these movements, the ANC was the primary target, largely due to its ties with communist and socialist parties. Sympathy for the struggle came mainly from the Eastern Bloc, while the West refused to offer military support. Through its association with the SACP, the ANC gained international solidarity but was simultaneously branded as a pawn of the USSR.

One of the justifications given for the assassination of Cde Chris Hani was his identification as a dangerous communist. This alignment with those who supported the struggle made ANC leaders primary targets for Western intelligence operations—including agencies from Israel, the UK, America, and apartheid South Africa. The media, both radio and print, played a crucial role in reinforcing this narrative. White conscripts in the army and police were conditioned to hate communists, with the ANC being portrayed as a communist organization.

#SpyWars #WesternImperialism

Even today, the tactics of spies, propaganda, and political mudslinging remain deeply embedded in the ANC’s electoral processes. The 1994 democratic transition failed to address the issue of spies and allegations, leaving a legacy of mistrust that continues to shape South African politics.

South Africa’s foreign policy makes it clear that the country refuses to be a puppet of Western Imperialism. Decisions such as joining BRICS, forging partnerships with Russia and Iran, and taking a firm stance against Israel’s genocide have turned South Africa into a focal point for Western intelligence operations. As a result, espionage activities are expected to escalate, with false allegations and media-driven narratives being used to create instability.

#ForeignPolicy
#BRICS

The Making of Spies and Their Use

The ancient strategist Sun Tzu extensively analyzed the role of spies in warfare in The Art of War. He emphasized that victory depends on knowing the enemy, and such knowledge does not come from divine intervention but through human intelligence.

Sun Tzu classified spies into five categories:

1. Local Spies – Recruited from the local population.
2. Inward Spies – Officials from the enemy’s ranks.
3. Converted Spies – Former enemy agents who are turned.
4. Doomed Spies – Those fed false information to mislead the enemy.
5. Surviving Spies – Agents who successfully return with intelligence.

#ArtOfWar #SpyNetwork

The ANC should have thoroughly understood this strategy during the struggle. However, the lingering question remains—were these spy games a manifestation of paranoia, internal anarchy, or deliberate enemy infiltration to weaken the movement’s unity?

Even in the present day, spy narratives continue to influence leadership decisions, political representation, and community structures. Numerous cases of alleged espionage have collapsed in court due to lack of evidence, yet the damage to individuals’ reputations is often irreversible.

#PoliticalManipulation #WedgeDrivers

Beware the Wedge Driver

The infiltration of the ANC is not a new phenomenon. In his closing address at the Morogoro Consultative Conference, Cde Oliver Tambo issued a stark warning:

“The order that comes from the Conference is close ranks. Be vigilant, comrades. The enemy is vigilant. Beware the wedge driver! Men who creep from ear to ear, driving wedges among us; who go around creating splits and divisions. Beware the wedge driver! Watch his poisonous tongue.”

The authenticity of those making spy allegations and the credibility of their sources remain questionable.

#OliverTambo #WedgeDriver

Where Do We Go from Here?

There is an urgent need to cleanse South African politics of baseless accusations. Too often, the public accepts allegations without demanding verifiable evidence. Sensational claims and publications continue to fuel distrust, without ever providing conclusive proof. This culture of unsubstantiated political mudslinging poses a serious threat to democracy.

Within the ANC itself, calling an opponent a spy has become a common campaign tactic—often with no obligation to present evidence or issue a retraction. Since the leadership of President OR Tambo, no ANC leader has been spared from such allegations.

#DemocracyUnderThreat #PoliticalAccountability

Recently, Advocate Dali Mpofu acknowledged that he and Former President Jacob Zuma exchanged insults but later reconciled, dismissing the attacks as part of political gamesmanship. However, this so-called political game influences leadership choices and voter behavior, often turning elections into manipulative spectacles rather than true democratic exercises.

#DirtyPolitics #ANCLeadership

The Way Forward

The ANC must take the lead in establishing political integrity. Allegations without evidence should not be tolerated. Those making accusations must be held accountable or required to substantiate their claims. Without this accountability, the cycle of espionage accusations will continue to erode political stability.

South Africa’s future cannot be built on lies, paranoia, and deception. The invisible war of spies and wedge drivers must come to an end.

#UnityAboveAll #CleanPolitics

Brian Gezani Ndhlovu
📞 0615899411