A source close to the unfolding investigation into “hoax e-mails” said yesterday that Kunene was commissioned by Motlanthe to probe an alleged political smear campaign against him by some of his ANC comrades.

Kunene’s team of information technology experts managed to gain access to government information that was meant to be protected, the source said.

The security breach has led to panic at the highest levels of government. Head of the State Information Technology Agency Mavuso Msimang was summoned before President Thabo Mbeki last month to explain the matter. It is believed that Mbeki’s own protected correspondence was also compromised.

The latest disclosure could prove damaging to Motlanthe if it is proved that investigators acting on his behalf had compromised state security.

Motlanthe could not be reached for comment yesterday.

The disclosures indicate once again that the fallout from the ANC’s succession race has tainted crucial state institutions. The race to succeed Mbeki was blown wide open after ANC deputy president Jacob Zuma was charged with rape last month. Zuma is also charged with corruption.

Many in the ruling party and its alliance now see Motlanthe as a viable candidate.

Motlanthe, who is reported to believe that at least some of the e-mails are authentic, tabled them at the party’s national executive meeting last month.

The disclosures about the “hoax e-mails” also come a month after the National Intelligence Agency’s (NIA’s) top three spies were axed, a move also connected to the convoluted history of the “hoax e-mails”.

Suspended NIA boss Billy Masetlha has been mentioned as part of a clique in the ANC favouring Motlanthe as a succession candidate. Sources said it was Masetlha who first alerted Motlanthe to the alleged existence of a plot to damage his chances.

Masetlha gave a confidential briefing on the e-mails to Mbeki on October 19, a day before he was suspended by Intelligence

Minister Ronnie Kasrils.

Sources said Masetlha’s report confirmed the authenticity of at least some of the e-mails and other documents.

Mbeki’s office would not comment on suggestions that the president’s communications had been compromised by Kunene’s probe. Presidential spokesman Murphy Morobe referred questions to the investigating authorities.

Besides the police, the “hoax e-mail” controversy is also being probed by intelligence inspector-general Zolile Ngcakani. Imtiaz Faizel of the inspector-general’s office did not respond to calls last night.

Kunene was arrested on December 1, and charged with fabricating a set of e-mails and chatroom exchanges that purport to be communications between various high-ranking government and ANC figures.

The e-mails implicate these leaders in a plot to discredit Zuma and Motlanthe to scupper their succession ambitions. Among those implicated are Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, her husband and former national prosecutor Bulelani Ngcuka, current director of public prosecutions Vusi Pikoli and ANC national executive member and businessman Saki Macozoma.

Kunene is out on R2000 bail, and an application by his lawyers to set aside his arrest will be heard early next year.

Although he is likely to be charged with fabricating the e-mails, the source said Kunene had, in fact, uncovered genuine communications.

The source, who is close to Motlanthe, said that some of the e-mails revealed the succession plans of national executive committee members and various businesspeople.