Johannesburg labelled the ‘new Eldorado of espionage’ in biggest digital leak since Edward Snowden

“It’s probably going to be an awkward day at the office at the South African State Security Agency.”

Speaking on Al Jazeera English, Clayton Swisher, the channel’s investigative unit director, has revealed more information on South Africa’s largest digital leak that’s being described as our country’s Edward Snowden moment. Hundreds of secret intelligence documents from South Africa’s State Security Agency (SSA) have been leaked to the news network offering unprecedented insight into the “shadowy and highly politicised realm of global espionage”.

Over the coming weeks, Al Jazeera and The Guardian will publish what they’re calling “The Spy Cables” and the little that has been revealed last night is already causing a storm.

Jane Duncan, activist and former director of the Freedom of Expression Institute, appears in one of the teasers telling Al Jazeera that South Africa will be “shocked by the slide-back of the democratic controls on the security apparatus”.

Swisher says the revelations indicate that Johannesburg is often caught in the middle of international spying agencies like MI6 and the CIA, insisting that South Africa surveil Muslim organisations and NGOs. “The continent of Africa is the new arena for the great game between countries.”

Aside from spying on Hamas and Fatah, documents also revealed that Britain’s MI6 sought South Africa’s help to recruit a North Korean official.

What’s interesting to note is how Al Jazeera went about promoting and branding this series they’re calling The Spy Cables. On Twitter EWN reporter Alex Eliseev noted:

If I ever get a big enough scoop, I’m making a teaser trailer. And doing a countdown. #SpyCables

— Alex Eliseev (@alexeliseev) February 23, 2015

For Al Jazeera this is an important story as they’ve invested heavily in their investigative unit by hiring some well-respected American journalists. Investigations aimed at an American audience have either been criticised or missed the mark since the launch of Al Jazeera America. But with this story at least South Africa will take note.