National Intelligence Agency (South Africa)

The National Intelligence Agency (NIA) is an intelligence agency of the South African government. It is responsible for domestic intelligence and counter-intelligence within the Republic of South Africa. The Agency is run by a Director-General, who is also a member of the National Intelligence Co-Ordinating Committee (NICOC) to which he reports.

History
The NIA was formed in 1994 following South Africa's 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. As of October 2005, the head of the NIA was Manala Manzini.

Al-Qaeda
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.

Spying on African National Congress
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 following an investigation by the Inspector-General of Intelligence. 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.

Size
In 1999, the agency employed about 1,500 persons.