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The National Intelligence Agency (NIA) was the previous name of an intelligence agency of the South African government. Currently it is known as the Domestic Branch of the State Security Agency. It is responsible for domestic and counter-intelligence within the Republic of South Africa. The branch is run by a Director, who reports to the Director-General of the State Security Agency, is also a member of the National Intelligence Co-Ordinating Committee (NICOC).
The NIA was formed in 1994 following South Africa's first multi-racial elections. It was created to take over from the domestic intelligence segment of the then National Intelligence Service (NIS) with the foreign intelligence functions being taken over by the South African Secret Service (SASS). Both the SASS and NIA were created as part of the Intelligence Act of 1994.
Since 2009, the National Intelligence Agency is now a division of the State Security Agency (South Africa) and is still responsible for domestic intelligence, retaining its own branch Director.[2] The State Security Agency Director General and the domestic intelligence Director in turn report via the National Intelligence Co-Ordinating Committee to the Minister of State Security.[3] In August 2013, the Minister for State Security, Siyabonga Cwele, announced the new domestic intelligence Director as Simon Ntombela. Other appointments made at the same time were Nozuko Bam deputy director for domestic collection, Africa and Thulani Dlomo as deputy director counter-intelligence.[4]
The following people have held the position of Director-General or Director since the restructure of the South African intelligence services in 1994:
The NIA has received some media attention of late due to media reports of an Al-Qaeda plot to attack targets in parts of South Africa. The NIA investigated the claims and reported them to be false. However, the NIA remains alert to the possible presence of Al-Qaeda operatives in the country, and in April 2004 a number of alleged operatives were arrested and deported. The NIA works closely with the Crime Intelligence Division of the South African Police Service in this regard.
In October 2005, the NIA was rocked by allegations that senior officials had been engaged in spying on African National Congress member Saki Macozoma. Three senior officials, including the director-general, Billy Masetlha were suspended[10] following an investigation by the Inspector-General of Intelligence.[11] The alleged spying took place against the backdrop of a developing power struggle between factions in the ANC. In December 2005, the Sunday Times newspaper claimed that the South African Police Service was preparing to raid the offices of the NIA as part of investigations into the matter.[12]
In 1999, the agency employed about 1,500 persons.[13][14]
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