The ANC complained that Helen Zille hired a Private Investigator to spy on provincial departments.

CAPE TOWN - The African National Congress (ANC) in the Western Cape has lodged a criminal complaint against Premier Helen Zille for hiring a Private Investigator allegedly to spy on provincial departments.

In its complaint lodged at the Cape Town Central police station yesterday, the party claims Zille contravened the National Strategic Intelligence Act by hiring a private company to do the work, instead of making use of the State Security Agency.

ANC provincial secretary Faiez Jacobs said, "As a premier you are entitled if there is any security work to use state agencies, you are not allowed to procure private investigators to spy on government."

Zille's spokesperson Michael Mpofu says the ANC has no case.

"There is absolutely nothing illegal about it and that charge won't hold water because there is nothing in the Security Act that binds government to only use services of the SSA."