Central Intelligence Organisation
From Roach Busters
| Central Intelligence Organisation | |
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| Established | 1963 |
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| Director-General | Gabriel Msowoya |
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| Budget | Classified |
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| Employees | Classified |
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| Address | Private Bag X87, Pretoria, 0001 |
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| Website | www.cio.gov.za/ |
The Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) is the organization responsible for coordinating the actions and activities of all of South Africa's intelligence agencies and collating the intelligence information received from them. It reports directly to the Prime Minister's office, and also briefs the State President weekly. The CIO is modelled on the U.S.A.'s Central Intelligence Agency, and many of the CIO's best and brightest reportedly receive training at CIA headquarters; neither South Africa nor the United States has confirmed or denied these reports.
The current Director-General, Gabriel Msowoya, was appointed by then-Prime Minister Jan Christiaan Smuts on January 13, 2002.
Contents |
Agencies
- National Intelligence Agency (NIA)
- South African Secret Service (SASS)
- South African Defence Force Intelligence Division (SADFID)
- Crime Intelligence Division (CID)
National Intelligence Agency
The National Intelligence Agency is responsible for domestic intelligence within South Africa. Organizationally and structurally, it is similar to the Security Service (MI5) of the United Kingdom. Its primary concern is internal security, particularly counter-espionage, counter-terrorism, and counter-intelligence. It is currently headed by Deputy Commissioner Nicolaas Luyt.
South African Secret Service
The South African Secret Service is responsible for foreign intelligence. It is modelled on the United States Central Intelligence Agency, and many of the SASS's best and brightest reportedly receive training at CIA headquarters; neither South Africa nor the United States has confirmed or denied these reports. It is known, however, that SASS and the CIA regularly share and coordinate information pertinent to both countries' national security.
The SASS has nine operational sections, known as "regions," which are responsible for covering various areas of the world. They are:
- Region 1: Sub-Saharan Africa
- Region 2: North Africa and the Middle East
- Region 3: Central Asia and South Asia
- Region 4: The Soviet Union
- Region 5: The Far East
- Region 6: Southeast Asia and Oceania
- Region 7: Latin America
- Region 8: North America
- Region 9: Europe (excluding the Soviet Union)
Needless to say, SASS is extremely secretive about its operations, and thus few details reach the public. It is generally regarded as one of the most effective intelligence agencies in the world, though less so than its equivalents in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union.
SASS also provides intelligence reports and various kinds of covert support for countries allied to South Africa, especially regional allies such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo-Zaire (DRCZ) and Mozambique. During the first Angolan Civil War (1975-2002), South African intelligence aided Jonas Savimbi's National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) extensively, by successfully uncovering and foiling many attempts on Savimbi's life; covertly funneling intelligence, financial support, and armaments to UNITA; and providing valuable information on the Angolan government, which SASS is believed to have infiltrated fairly extensively. SASS ended its involvement in Angola in 1992, in response to Savimbi's refusal to lay down his arms after losing a United Nations-supervised general election. As of 2008, SASS's main focuses are the DRCZ and Angola (with which South Africa has an uneasy relationship).
SASS is currently headed by Deputy Commissioner Makgatho Makeba.
South African Defence Force Intelligence Division
The South African Defence Force Intelligence Division's responsibility is military intelligence, as can be surmised by the name. It is responsible to, and reports directly to, the Minister of Defence and National Security. It is led by Deputy Commissioner Mathole Nyembezi.
Crime Intelligence Division
The Crime Intelligence Division, which reports directly to the South African Police (SAP), holds overall responsibility for coordinating information about crime and investigative procedures for the SAP. Its functions include: operational support; crime information analysis and management; counter-intelligence; and gathering intelligence on criminals. The CID is very similar, in both structure and purpose, to the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Deputy Commissioner Sishayi Mamba is the current director of the CID.
