Making headlines in South Africa is the news that the Defence Intelligence in Pretoria has been making overtures to members of the press for its Overt Liaison section. The section, says it seeks to establish relationships with journalists with a "view to acquiring oral and written analyses of current events". In return, the defence intelligence offers to provide "tip-offs" for stories as well as "improved access to the official intelligence community".

The agent, Carien Pieterse who approached Adrian Hadland, a political editor for Cape Argus, said that a network of journalists, including all the Pretoria newspapers, had already agreed to participate. She said that it was obvious the representative had lined up further meetings with journalists in the Cape and that this was the purpose of the visit. Pieterse added that as well as providing tip-offs and better access, journalists would also be invited to functions and briefings to discuss issues of the day with intelligence community operatives and managers. Journalists would provide their information either in writing or verbally. In addition, the identity of the participants would be kept strictly confidential, that not even ministers would know which journalist had said what, and even that a number would be assigned to facilitate this confidentiality.

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