Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05PRETORIA4340
2005-10-27 06:29:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Pretoria
Cable title:  

NIA IMPLICATED IN ANTI-MBEKI SPYING

Tags:  PGOV PINR SF 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

270629Z Oct 05
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRETORIA 004340 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/24/2015
TAGS: PGOV PINR SF
SUBJECT: NIA IMPLICATED IN ANTI-MBEKI SPYING

REF: PRETORIA 4296

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Don Teitelbaum
Reason 1.4 (b)

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRETORIA 004340

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/24/2015
TAGS: PGOV PINR SF
SUBJECT: NIA IMPLICATED IN ANTI-MBEKI SPYING

REF: PRETORIA 4296

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Don Teitelbaum
Reason 1.4 (b)


1. (C) Summary: National Intelligence Agency Director
General Billy Masetlha and two of his deputies on October 21
were suspended by Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils after
NIA was accused of spying on Saki Macozoma, a prominent
businessman and ally of President Thabo Mbeki. Press reports
also have claimed that NIA unlawfully intercepted emails
between senior ANC and government officials regarding the
succession battle between Mbeki and former Deputy President
Jacob Zuma, a charge Kasrils vehemently denies. Kasrils also
warned senior intelligence officials after the Masetlha
suspension that they are to stay out of political disputes,
but it remains unclear to what extent they will heed this
warning. End summary.

--------------
SURVEILLANCE FIASCO SPARKS SUSPENSIONS
--------------


2. (SBU) Intelligence Minister Kasrils suspended Masetlha,
NIA Deputy Director Gibson Njenje, and counter-intelligence
General Manager Bob Mhlanga after he received a complaint
from businessman Saki Macozoma about NIA surveillance.
(Note: NIA is South Africa's internal intelligence service,
while the South African Secret Service handles foreign
intelligence. End note.) Macozoma -- a prominent
businessman who sits on the ANC's National Executive
Committee, is close to Mbeki, and is considered a dark horse
presidential contender -- had noticed two vehicles on October
17 taking pictures of his Johannesburg house. Macozoma and
his bodyguards subsequently noticed that he was being
constantly followed. On October 19, Macozoma's bodyguards
confronted the surveillants, who admitted that they were from
NIA. Macozoma subsequently informed Kasrils of this,
immediately prompting the suspensions. Intelligence
Inspector General Zilile Ngcakani publicly stated that
surveillance of Macozoma had not been officially authorized
and that an investigation would commence immediately.


3. (SBU) Ngcakani's investigation also will look into the
source of several incriminating emails that were sent
immediately after the suspensions were announced. The
emails, which appear to have been targeted at the press,
claimed that NIA agents intercepted emails between senior ANC
and government officials sympathetic to Mbeki about getting
rid of succession "stumbling blocks." Kasrils immediately
dismissed the claims, noting that NIA would need judicial
authorization for such intercepts. Press reports also note
that the Intelligence Minister also met with senior
intelligence officials on October 21, sharply warning them to
remain non-partisan in the ongoing political infighting,
calling abuses "political conspiracy with dangerous
repercussions."

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


4. (C) Embassy contacts have long noted that NIA is full of
Zuma sympathizers unafraid to leak sensitive information that
would damage President Mbeki. The Macozoma surveillance,
however, is a step too far, and will likely cost Masetlha and
his deputies their jobs. Although he is less prominent than
ANC-affiliated business magnates like Cyril Ramaphosa and
Tokyo Sexwale, Macozoma plays a powerful behind-the-scenes
role bolstered by close ties to the President. As for the
emails, they appear to be a crude attempt to attack Mbeki and
his supporters, but they will likely damage NIA's integrity
more than that of the President.


5. (C) Mbeki's next moves are unclear, but the latest
allegations give him the pretext for a housecleaning of the
internal service. The President may, however, elect to keep
lower-level Zuma sympathizers on board where they will be
easier to monitor and control. Either way, it is hard to see
Masetlha's career surviving. This scandal and NIA's
allegations against the Scorpions (Ref) have turned him from
an Mbeki favorite into an ANC persona non grata in just a few
short weeks.
TEITELBAUM