View source for Defence Intelligence Division (SANDF)

{{Short description|South African military intelligence agency}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Use South African English|date=July 2012}}
{{infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = Defence Intelligence Division
| image                         = 
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| dates                         = 1962 - present
| country                       = {{ZAF}}
| allegiance                    = 
| branch                        = [[South African National Defence Force]]
| type                          = [[Military Intelligence]]
| role                          = {{bulletedlist|[[Cyberwarfare]]|[[Intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance]]}}
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| motto                         = ''Vigilans et Sciens'' (until 1994)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://sadf.sentinelprojects.com/mf/Mimain.html | title=Sentinel Projects: SADF Military Intelligence: An Unofficial Information Page }}</ref>
| colors                        = Black, White, Yellow<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.fotw.info/flags/za-int.html | title=South Africa - SANDF Defence Intelligence Division flag }}</ref>
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| mascot                        = Owl (until 1994)
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| website                       = <!-- Commanders -->
| commander1                    = Lt. Gen [[Thalita Mxakato]]
| commander1_label              = Chief of Defence Intelligence
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| notable_commanders            = <!-- Insignia -->
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The '''Defence Intelligence Division''' of the [[South African National Defence Force]] ('''SANDF-ID''' also known as '''Defence Intelligence''') is the primary [[Military intelligence|military]] [[intelligence agency]] of [[South Africa]] which came into being on 27 April 1994.<ref name="DOD20anniv">{{cite web | url=http://www.dod.mil.za/news/2014/04/celebration.htm | title=20 years celebration of defence intelligence in a democracy | publisher=DoD | date=April 2014 | access-date=7 October 2014 | author=Rakoma, Ally}}</ref><ref name="globalsecurity-idivision">{{cite web | url=http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/world/rsa/df_id.htm | title=National Defence Force Intelligence Division | access-date=17 March 2011 | publisher=GlobalSecurity.org}}</ref> The other [[intelligence agency|intelligence agencies]] of the country are:

*The [[National Intelligence Co-Ordinating Committee]] (NICOC)
*The [[National Intelligence Agency (South Africa)|National Intelligence Agency]] (NIA)
*The [[South African Secret Service]] (SASS)
*The [[Crime Intelligence (SAPS)|Crime Intelligence Division]] of the [[South African Police Service]] (SAPS)

== History ==

=== Early years (1910-1961) ===
The [[Union of South Africa]] originally did not possess an independent intelligence service within the [[Union Defence Force (South Africa)|Union Defence Force]] (it was a dominion of the [[British Empire]], and therefore received its intelligence from [[MI6]].)  In 1937, the Directorate Operations and Intelligence was formed within the UDF. 20 years later, in February 1957, on the instruction of Defence Minister [[Frans Erasmus]] it became fully responsible for the collection and interpretation of military intelligence.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Sentinel Projects: SADF Military Intelligence: A SHORT HISTORY OF MILITARY INTELLIGENCE DIVISION. |url=https://sadf.sentinelprojects.com/mf/mihistory.html |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=sadf.sentinelprojects.com}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=SADF.info |url=https://sadf.info/MiliaryIntelligenceIntroduction.html |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=sadf.info}}</ref>

=== Expansion of intelligence capabilities (1961-1994) ===
The intelligence section on 1 July 1962 was elevated to directorate status and was known as the Directorate Military Intelligence (DMI).<ref name=":1" /> After the establishment of the State Security Committee in 1963, DMI together with the [[Department of Foreign Affairs (South Africa)|Department of Foreign Affairs]] and the [[South African Police Service]], served on this committee. On 1 January 1968, the formation of the South African Military Intelligence Corps took place, being authorized on 2 February 1968. In 1970 it became Military Intelligence Division (MID) and a year later, cam under the leadership of the Director-General Military Intelligence. On 15 April 1974, DGMI became the Chief Staff Intelligence (CSI) directly responsible to Commander of the [[South African Defence Force]]. The Intelligence Centre for the purpose of training was also set up at the former [[South African Astronomical Observatory|Radcliffe Observatory]]. On 2 November 1983 the Centre was accorded unit status and was designated the South African Military Intelligence College.<ref name=":0" />

=== Post-apartheid ===

==Chiefs of Defence Intelligence==
Source:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sentinel Projects: SADF Military Intelligence: CSIs and Predecessors. |url=https://sadf.sentinelprojects.com/mf/MIFACTS.html |access-date=2023-01-03 |website=sadf.sentinelprojects.com}}</ref>

=== Chief Intelligence Officer ===

* Col. M. "Thuys" J. Uys (2 February 1961-22 December 1961)

=== Director Military Intelligence ===

* Brig Pierre Mauritz Retief (23 December 1961-2 January 1966)
* Maj. General [[Fritz Loots|F. W. Loots]] (3 January 1966-18 July 1971)

=== Chief of Staff Intelligence ===

* Lt. General [[Hein du Toit|H. de V. du Toit]] (19 July 1971-26 September 1977)
* Maj. General [[Ivan Lemmer|I. Lemmer]] (27 September 1977-14 June 1978)
* Lt. General [[Pieter van der Westhuizen|P. W. van der Westhuizen]] (15 June 1978-30 June 1985)
* [[Vice admiral]] A. P. Putter (1 July 1985-31 March 1989)
* Lt General [[Witkop Badenhorst|R. Badenhost]] (1 April 1989-30 November 1991)
* Lt. General [[Joffel van der Westhuizen|C.P. van der Westhuizen]] (1 December 1991-31 March 1994)

=== Chiefs of Defence Intelligence ===
* Lt Gen [[Dirk Verbeek|D.R. Verbeek]] (1 April 1994-1999)
* Lt Gen [[Mojo Motau|M.M. Motau]] (1999-2009)
* Lt. General [[Abel Shilubane]] (2011-2012)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/politicsweb/en/page71616/page71656?oid=259320&sn=Detail&pid=71656|title=Lindiwe Sisulu announces SANDF appointments - DoD - DOCUMENTS - Politicsweb}}</ref>
* Lt. General [[Jeremia Nyembe|Jeremia Mduduzi Nyembe]] (2013-)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/south-africa/three-news-apppointments-for-defence-1489468|title=Three New Appointments for Defence|date=20 March 2013|website=Independent Online|location=South Africa|others=SAPA|access-date=11 April 2019}}</ref>
* Lt. General [[Thalita Mxakato]] (1 June 2021-present)<ref name="N24200414">{{cite web | url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/ramaphosa-announces-lt-general-rudzani-maphwanya-as-incoming-sandf-chief-20210414 | title=Ramaphosa announces Lt-General Rudzani Maphwanya as incoming SANDF Chief | publisher=News24 | date=14 April 2021 | accessdate=15 April 2021 | author=Seleka, Ntwaagae}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{SANDF}}
{{National intelligence agencies}}

[[Category:1994 establishments in South Africa]]
[[Category:Military of South Africa]]
[[Category:South African intelligence agencies]]
[[Category:Military intelligence agencies]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1994]]


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