South African Secret Service

Intelligence agency of South Africa

South African Secret ServiceAgency overview

Formed| 1 January 1994
Preceding agency|

* National Intelligence Service

Jurisdiction| Government of South Africa
Headquarters| Arcadia Building, Pretoria
Minister responsible|

* Ayanda Dlodlo, Minister of State Security

Agency executive|

* Mr Robert McBride, Director

Website| www.sass.gov.za Archived 28 November 2004 at the Wayback Machine

The South African Secret Service (SASS) was the previous name of a South African intelligence agency. Currently, it is known as the Foreign Branch of the State Security Agency. It is responsible for all non-military foreign intelligence and for counterintelligence within the Service itself. It is also responsible for gathering, correlating, evaluating and analysing this intelligence.

## History

[edit]

The SASS was formed in 1994 following South African first multiracial elections.[1] It was created to take over the foreign intelligence functions of the now-defunct National Intelligence Service (NIS), with the domestic intelligence responsibilities taken up by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA).[2] Both the SASS and NIA were created as part of the Intelligence Act of 1994. The service performs intelligence at the request of the President and the Minister of State Security.[3] The Service is run by a Director-General. Prior to 2009, the Service was a self-governing organisation which was a member of the National Intelligence Co-Ordinating Committee (NICOC). Since 2009, the South African Secret Service is now a division of the State Security Agency (South Africa) and still responsible for foreign intelligence, retaining its own branch Director.[4] The State Security Agency Director General and the SASS foreign intelligence Director in turn report via the National Intelligence Co-Ordinating Committee to the Minister of State Security.[5] In August 2013, the Minister for State Security, Siyabonga Cwele, announced the new foreign intelligence Director as Batandwa Siswana. Other appointments made at the same time were Joyce Mashele as deputy director general for collection, Africa and Matshidiso Mhlambo as deputy director general for the rest of the world.[6]

## Directors-General

[edit]

* 1995 – 1996 Mike Louw[7]: 346
* 1996 – 1999 Billy Masetlha[7]: 346
* 1999 – 2009 Hilton Dennis[7]: 347
* 2009 – 2012 Mo Shaik[8]
* 2012 – 2013 Simon Ntombela (acting DG)[6]
* 2013 – 2016 Batandwa Siswana[6]
* 2016 – 2020 Joyce Mashele (acting DG)[9]
* 2020 – 2021 (suspended) Robert McBride[9][10]
* 2021–present Joyce Mashele (acting DG)[11]

## Current status

[edit]

The Service is extremely secretive about its operations, and thus few details reach the public. However, when taking current South African policy and concerns into account, it appears the attentions of the SASS are currently focused on two main areas: The activities of Al-Qaeda and similar groups abroad in relation to South Africa's security, and the activities of illegal South African mercenaries, most especially in parts of Africa and Iraq. The South African Secret Service is one of the elite intelligence organisations in Africa; another is the State Security Service in Nigeria.

## In popular culture

[edit]

The SASS appear in the 2017–2018 Millarworld comic book series Kingsman: The Red Diamond, primarily embodied by Agent Kwaito.[12]

## See also

[edit]

* National Intelligence Co-Ordinating Committee
* National Intelligence Agency (South Africa)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Turton, A.R. 2021. South African Secret Service as a Caretaker Structure: The Evolution of the Civilian Intelligence Services Under Democracy and the Lessons Learned. In Nongqai, Journal of National Security History in Southern Africa, Vol. 12; No. 5. Available online at Nongqai Vol 12 No 5 by Hennie Heymans - Issuu
2. ^ Turton, A.R. 2021. Understanding the Evolution of the National Intelligence Service and its Contribution to South African Democracy. In Nongqai, Journal of National Security History in Southern Africa, Vol. 12; No. 4. Pp. Available online at Nongqai Vol 12 No 4 by Hennie Heymans - Issuu
3. ^ "South African Secret Service (SASS)". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 14 March 2011.
4. ^ "Intelligence body restructured". News24. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
5. ^ http://d2zmx6mlqh7g3a.cloudfront.net/cdn/farfuture/7TrxbDKmYUARbzqmK9nreAdUsQ_yCICvusd-gXkkXkw/mtime:1381381054/files/130416bversion_of_bill.pdf [dead link]
6. ^ a b c "Cwele announces new appointments in intelligence". M&G. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
7. ^ a b c Sanders, James (2006). Apartheid's Friends. The Rise and Fall of South Africa's Secret Services. Great Britain: John Murray(Publishers). ISBN 978-0719566752.
8. ^ "Mo Shaik named new secret service chief". M&G. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
9. ^ a b Hunter, Qaanitah (17 July 2020). "What McBride's appointment means for the country's intelligence services". News24. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
10. ^ Kahla, Cheryl (9 July 2021). "Robert McBride suspension: New drama around SSA foreign branch head". The Citizen. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
11. ^ "State Security Agency rejects claims about foreign deployment of retired members". gov.za. 10 November 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
12. ^ Schedeen, Jesse (5 September 2017). "Kingsman: The Red Diamond #1 Review". IGN. Retrieved 7 September 2017.

## External links

[edit]

* Official SASS site Archived 28 November 2004 at the Wayback Machine

* v
* t
* e

National intelligence agencies

Foreign
intelligence|

* Afghanistan: GDI
* Albania: SHISH
* Algeria: DRS
* Angola: SIE
* Argentina: SIDE
* Armenia: NSS
* Austria: DSN
* Australia: ASIS
* Azerbaijan: XKX
* Bahrain: NSA
* Bangladesh: NSI
* Belarus: KGB RB
* Belgium: ADIV/SGRS
* Bosnia and Herzegovina: OSA-OBA
* Botswana: DIS
* Brazil: ABIN
* Brunei: BRD
* Bulgaria: DAR
* Cameroon: BMM
* Canada: CSIS
* Chad: ANS
* Chile: ANI
* China: MSS
* Congo (Democratic Republic of): ANR
* Croatia: SOA
* Cuba: DI
* Czech Republic: ÚZSI
* Denmark: FE
* Djibouti: BSRG
* Ecuador: SENAIN
* Egypt: Mukhabarat
* Estonia: EFIS
* Ethiopia: NISS
* France: DGSE
* Gambia: SIS
* Georgia: GIS
* Germany: BND
* Ghana: BNI, BGU, RDU
* Greece: EYP
* Hungary: IH
* India: RAW
* Indonesia: BIN
* Iran: VAJA
* Iraq: INIS
* Ireland: G2
* Israel: Mossad
* Italy: AISE
* Ivory Coast: NSC
* Japan: CIRO
* Jordan: GID
* Kazakhstan: Syrbar
* Kenya: NIS
* Kyrgyzstan: UKMK
* Kuwait: KSS
* Latvia: SAB
* Liberia: NSA
* Lithuania: VSD
* Lebanon: GDGS
* Libya: MJ
* Malaysia: MEIO
* Mexico: CISEN
* Moldova: SIS
* Mongolia: GIA
* Montenegro: ANB
* Morocco: DGED
* Mozambique: SISE
* Netherlands: AIVD
* New Zealand: NZSIS
* Nigeria: NIA
* North Korea: RGB
* North Macedonia: ANB
* Norway: E-tjenesten
* Oman: Palace Office
* Pakistan: ISI
* Palestine: GIS
* Papua New Guinea: NIO
* Philippines: NICA
* Poland: AW
* Portugal: SIED
* Qatar: QSS
* Romania: SIE
* Russia: SVR
* Saudi Arabia: GIP
* Serbia: BIA
* Sierra Leone: CISU
* Singapore: SID
* Slovakia: SIS
* Slovenia: SOVA
* Somalia: NISA
* South Africa: SSA
* South Korea: NIS
* Spain: CNI
* Sri Lanka: SIS
* Sudan: GIS
* Sweden: KSI
* Switzerland: NDB
* Syria: GIS
* Taiwan: NSB
* Tajikistan: GKNB
* Tanzania: TISS
* Thailand: NIA
* Togo: NIA
* Tunisia: TIA
* Turkey: MİT
* Turkmenistan: MNS
* Uganda: ESO
* Ukraine: SZRU
* United Arab Emirates: SIA
* United Kingdom: SIS (MI6)
* United States: CIA
* Uzbekistan: SSS
* Vietnam: TC2

Domestic
intelligence|

* Afghanistan: GDI
* Algeria: CSS
* Angola: SINSE
* Argentina: SIDE
* Armenia: NSS
* Australia: ASIO
* Austria: DSN
* Azerbaijan: DTX
* Bangladesh: SB
* Belarus: KGB RB
* Belgium: VS/SE
* Bosnia and Herzegovina: SIPA
* Botswana: DIS
* Brazil: PF
* Brunei: IRD
* Bulgaria: DANS
* Burundi: SNR
* Canada: CSIS
* Chad: DGSSIE
* Chile: ANI
* China: MSS
* Colombia: DNI
* Congo (Democratic Republic of): ANR
* Croatia: SOA
* Czech Republic: BIS
* Denmark: PET
* Egypt: NSA
* Estonia: KAPO
* Finland: SUPO
* France: DGSI
* Georgia: SSSG
* Germany: BfV, LfV
* Ghana: GPS, CID
* Greece: EYP
* Hong Kong: NSD, CPGNSO
* Hungary: AH
* India: IB
* Indonesia: Baintelkam Polri (id), BIN
* Iran: VAJA, IRGC, PAVA
* Ireland: CSB, SDU, NSU
* Israel: Shin Bet
* Italy: AISI
* Japan: NPA, TMPD PSB, PSIA
* Kazakhstan: NSC
* Kenya: NIS
* Kosovo: AKI
* Latvia: VDD
* Lithuania: STT
* Lebanon: ISF IB, LSS
* Luxembourg: SREL
* Macau: DS
* Malaysia: SB
* Moldova: SIS
* Morocco: DGST
* Netherlands: NCTV
* New Zealand: NZSIS
* Nigeria: SSS
* North Korea: SSD
* North Macedonia: IA
* Norway: PST
* Oman: ISS
* Pakistan: IB, FIA
* Palestine: PPS
* Paraguay: SNI
* Peru: DINI
* Philippines: NBI, NICA
* Poland: ABW, SOP, SM
* Portugal: SIS
* Romania: SRI
* Russia: FSB
* Saudi Arabia: Mabahith
* Serbia: BIA
* Singapore: ISD
* Somalia: NISA
* South Africa: SSA
* South Korea: Intelligence Bureau, KNPA
* Spain: CITCO
* Sri Lanka: SIS
* Sweden: SÄPO
* Switzerland: NDB
* Syria: GIS
* Taiwan: MJIB
* Thailand: ISOC, SB
* Togo: ANR
* Turkey: MİT, İB
* Uganda: ISO
* Ukraine: SBU
* United Kingdom: Security Service (MI5), NDEDIU, NCA, NBIS
* United States: I&A (DHS), ID (HSI), IB (FBI), ONSI (DEA), OSII (ATF)
* Uzbekistan: SNB
* Venezuela: SEBIN
* Vietnam: TC5 (vi)
* Zimbabwe: CIO

Military
intelligence|

* Algeria: DCSA
* Angola: SIM
* Australia: DIO
* Austria: HNaA
* Bangladesh: DGFI
* Belarus: GRU MO RB
* Belgium: ADIV/SGRS
* Brazil: DIE
* Canada: CFINTCOM
* Chad: DGSSIE
* China: CMC JSD Intelligence Bureau
* Congo (Democratic Republic of): DEMIAP
* Croatia: VSOA
* Cuba: DCIM
* Czech Republic: VZ
* Denmark: FE
* Egypt: DMISR
* Finland: PE TIEDOS
* France: DRM, DGSE
* Germany: MAD
* Ghana: MIU
* Hungary: KNBSZ
* Iran: General Staff, SAHEFAJA, SAHEFASA, SAHEFAVEDJA
* India: DMI, DIA
* Indonesia: BAIS TNI, Pusintelad
* Ireland: G2
* Israel: Aman
* Italy: CII
* Japan: DIH
* Kazakhstan: NSC
* Lithuania: AOTD
* Malaysia: DIO
* Maldives: MNDF
* Morocco: DB
* Myanmar: Sa Ya Pa
* Netherlands: MIVD
* New Zealand: DDIS
* Nigeria: DIA
* North Korea: RGB
* North Macedonia: MSSI
* Norway: E-tjenesten
* Pakistan: MI, NI, AI
* Palestine: MIS
* Philippines: ISAFP
* Poland: SKW, SWW
* Portugal: CISMIL
* Romania: DGIA
* Russia: GRU
* Saudi Arabia: AFISC
* Serbia: VBA, VOA
* Singapore: MIO
* Slovakia: VS
* Slovenia: OVS
* South Africa: SANDF-ID
* South Korea: DIA, DCC
* Spain: CIFAS
* Sri Lanka: DMI
* Sweden: MUST
* Switzerland: MND, LWND
* Syria: MI, AFID
* Taiwan: MIB
* Thailand: AFSC
* Turkey: GENKUR İ.D.B.
* Ukraine: HUR MO
* United Kingdom: DI
* United States: DIA
* ONI
* MIC
* USAFI
* MCI
* CGI
* NSIC
* Venezuela: DGCIM
* Vietnam: TC2

Signals
intelligence|

* Australia: ASD
* Bangladesh: NTMC
* Brazil: 2ª Sch/EMD
* Canada: CSE
* China: SIGINT
* Croatia: OTC
* Ethiopia: INSA
* Finland: PVTIEDL
* France: DGSE, DRSD
* Germany: BND
* Ghana: RDU
* India: JCB, NTRO
* Indonesia: BSSN (id)
* Ireland: CIS
* Israel: 8200
* Japan: DIH
* Kazakhstan: NSC
* Netherlands: NSO, JSCU
* New Zealand: GCSB
* North Korea: RGB
* Norway: NSM
* Pakistan: JSIB
* Poland: AW, ABW, SKW, SWW, NCBC, gOR 3.FO, CRiWWRE, 2.ORel, 6.ORel, JW NIL
* Romania: STS
* Russia: Spetssvyaz
* Saudi Arabia: PSS
* South Africa: SSA
* Spain: CCN
* Sweden: FRA
* Switzerland: NDB
* Syria: MI
* Turkey: MİT-SİB
* UAE: SIA
* Ukraine: Derzhspetszviazok
* United Kingdom: GCHQ
* United States: NSA

Imagery
intelligence|

* Australia: AGO
* Finland: PVTIEDL
* India: DAI
* Indonesia: BIG
* Israel: Air Intelligence Group
* Malaysia: MaCGDI
* New Zealand: GEOINT NZ
* Poland: AW, SWW, ORO, 12.BBSP, JW NIL
* Pakistan: Air Intelligence
* Philippines: NMARSC
* Portugal: CIGeoE
* Russia: TsVTI GRU
* United Kingdom: DGIFC
* United States: NGA

Financial
intelligence|

* Argentina: UIF
* Australia: AUSTRAC
* Azerbaijan: MMX
* Bangladesh: FIU
* Brazil: COAF
* Canada: FINTRAC
* China: Ministry of Public Security Economic Crimes Investigation Bureau
* Fiji: FIU
* France: Tracfin, DNRED
* Iceland: SR
* India: CEIB
* Indonesia: PPATK
* Ireland: GNECB
* Italy: UIF
* Lithuania (FNTT)
* Malta: FIAU
* Mexico: UIF
* Netherlands: FIOD
* Poland: GIIF, SCS, CBA
* Qatar: FIU
* Russia: Rosfinmonitoring
* Saudi Arabia: GDOFI
* Spain: SVA, SEPBLAC
* Turkey: MASAK
* United Kingdom: NCA
* United States: IRS-CI, TFI
* FinCEN
* OIA
* Vatican: ASIF

Criminal
intelligence|

* Argentina: DNIC
* Australia: ACIC
* Bangladesh: CID
* Canada: CISC
* Finland: NBI
* India: CBI
* Indonesia: Baintelkam Polri (id)
* Italy: DIA, DIGOS
* Philippines: NBI, PNP-IG
* Poland: BWiIK KGP, CBŚP, ZOŚ KGSG, ZK KGŻW
* Romania:  DGPI
* South Africa: Crime Intelligence Division
* Spain: CGI, SIGC, CGPJ, UCO
* United Kingdom: NCA
* United States: IB (FBI), ONSI (DEA), OSII (ATF), ID (HSI)

Intelligence
community|

* Australia
* Bangladesh
* Croatia
* France
* India
* Israel
* Italy
* New Zealand
* Pakistan
* Russia
* United Kingdom
* United States

Intelligence
alliances|

* Club de Berne
* Five Eyes
* Maximator
* Egmont Group

Defunct
agencies|

* Fascist Italy: OVRA
* Gaddafi Libya: Mukhabarat el-Jamahiriya
* Imperial Japan: Tokko
* Ming Dynasty: Embroidered Uniform Guard, Eastern Depot, Western Depot, Internal Depot
* Prussia: Prussian Secret Police
* Republic of China: NBIS
* Nazi Germany: Gestapo, Sicherheitsdienst
* Soviet Union: NKVD, KGB
* United Kingdom: DMI
* United States: Office of Strategic Services
* Wang Jingwei regime: Jessfield 76
* Yugoslavia: KOS

Related
topics|

* Espionage (List of intelligence agencies)
* Leaks
* Diplomatic cable leaks
* NSA leaks
* CIA leaks
* Great Firewall of China
* Mass surveillance in China
* Law enforcement
* Interpol
* Security agency
* Surveillance
* Big Brother
* Call detail record
* Carnivore
* Dishfire
* ECHELON
* PRISM
* Stone Ghost
* Turbulence (NSA programme)
* National security
* Surveillance issues in smart cities

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Departments of the Government of South Africa

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Departments|

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Agencies with
department status|

* Government Communication and Information System
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South Africa articles

History|

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By topic|

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Geography|

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Politics|

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Society|

* Cannabis
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Culture|

* Architecture
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* HIV/AIDS
* Homelessness
* Flag
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* National symbols
* Public holidays
* Sports
* World Heritage Sites
* heritage sites

Demographics|

* South African Bantu-speaking peoples
* Ndebele
* Pedi
* Sotho
* Swazi
* Tsonga
* Tswana
* Venda
* Xhosa
* Zulu
* Khoisan
* Khoekhoe
* San people
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* British
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* Cape Malays
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* Indians
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* Outline
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* Category
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Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
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National|

* United States

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