Khama persists with questions against DIS
Innocent Selatlhwa | Monday February 2, 2026 06:00
The man who was credited for bringing the DIS to life keeps on trying to ask questions about what he terms abuse of office by the directorate and its management. He has however not been successful, but continues to ask. Earlier in the week, Khama was left frustrated as Minister for Communications and Innovation, David Tshere, standing in for Minister for State President, Defence and Security, Moeti Mohwasa, said the DIS Act does not allow him to answer a question on accelerated promotions.
Khama wanted to know the exact number of DIS officers who received accelerated promotion directly from the C-scale to the E-scale from 2020 to 2025. Prior to their accelerated promotion, Khama also wanted to establish the professional qualifications, experience, and performance assessments of the officers.
The former president also wanted to know whether any of the officers who received accelerated promotion or overseas scholarships are related by blood, marriage, or affinity (including being a spouse, child, or sibling) to the DIS Appointing Authority or any senior official involved in the promotion decision; Who was personally in charge of assessing and recommending these accelerated promotions whether it was an individual, a promotions board, or a committee; and whether the minister, as the overseeing authority, personally verified the process by reviewing the promotion files of the officers in question if a board or committee made the recommendations.
In response, Tshere said that, as per the response he had, Section 6 (2) of the Intelligence and Security Services Act states that recruitment and welfare issues of staff are under direct control and administration of the Director General. Further, he said the DIS Council, Tribunal and Parliamentary Committee, which were to look into operations of the DIS, were currently not operational to be able to oversee the operations.
'This is done in acknowledgement of the sensitive nature of the organisation and its operations. On account of this, I feel constrained to give operational details as requested by the honourable member,' Tshere said.
Khama would, however, express his frustration at the response. He called on the Minister to respond to the questions individually and point out any which spoke to operations of the DIS.
“This is not acceptable, at least to me. The response given here is nothing close to what was said in Parliament. They are deliberately evading the question. This points to abuse of office, which is what this question is trying to get to. They are running away from the question,” he said.
Khama said it was unfair that, as Ntlo ya Dikgosi, they could not be given such information. He said he would give the same question to the Member of Parliament for Serowe North, Baratiwa Mathoothe, to ask it in Parliament.
Khama would however not give up as he would on Thursday ask the Minister for State President, Defence and Security whether there is an officer who received an accelerated promotion from C-scale to E-scale, and also benefited from overseas study, and is married to the Appointing Authority of the DIS; if so, can an immediate, thorough, and transparent investigation into this matter be instituted and the allegation report findings
In response, Acting Minister Shaun Nthaile said as stated in the earlier response, appointments and promotions of staff at the DIS are the responsibility of the Director General. “I want to plead with members of the House to understand the current legislative framework regarding the operations of this organization and other similarly circumstanced organs of the state particularly the security sector,” he said.
Khama would quiz whether there was no Minister responsible to Parliament and Ntlo Ya Dikgosi for the day to day running of the DIS. “Furthermore, is there not a committee called the Public Accounts Committee that the DIS has to report when it comes to financial accountability.” he said. Nthaile said there are specific structures at which all the security services matters are discussed at. Khama said the Minister was not answering the question. “Is there no role by the Minister. Is he not responsible to parliament for the day to day operations of the DIS. Whether what transpired with the question was in order. He was however left unsatisfied with the response.
Still in a matter related to the DIS, Khama asked whether Wilhelmina Butterfly Maswabi would be compensated for the ‘false statements made about her.’ Nthaile responded, ”It is correct that the government issued a public apology and retraction in respect of Ambassador Bridgette Motsepe. That apology followed a careful review of allegations contained in an affidavit deposed to in 2019 and reflects this Government’s commitment to accountability, fairness, and responsible governance.” The government will not apologise to Butterfly. First Maswabi will not be compensated as the court did not find that the state or its institutions acted unlawfully toward, he did not do it away any damages arising from her claim.”
Still this week, Khama asked the Minister to explain a case in which in 2018, the chief of staff at the DIS was told to stay home and not come to work and after more than a year on “garden leave” he was transferred to the Ministry of Transport and Communications under unchanged terms, only later face unlawful downgrade in rank, and several arbitray changes to his conditions of service including withheld allowances, discontinued benefits, and lack of logistical support. “Approaching retirement, his request to return to the DIS was ignored, his separation was delayed, post retirement obligations- including transport, packing support, and protection of his property were not fulfilled, leading to personal losses and continued lack of official response and state how it is justified to pay someone with public funds for over a year whilst at home and not working,” he said.
In response, Nthaile said it is the established practice of government that where an officer is officially directed to stay away from duty, such officer remains entitled to remuneration unless lawfully dismissed or otherwise sanctioned in accordance with due process. “However, I am not at liberty to provide details on this particular matter out of considerations for employee/ employer confidentiality,” he said.
Khama has also in the week asked the Minister for State President, Defence and Security to state how many Director positions exist in the Directorate of Intelligence Services and whether that number is justified for the size and mandate of the organisation and who approves these numbers. He would also not get a response to the question.