A former South African Air Force brigadier general, Portia Anyamba, has been sentenced to six months in a United States federal prison after pleading guilty to acting as an undisclosed agent of the South African government while employed at a sensitive US national security research facility.
The 59-year-old, who lived in Knoxville, Tennessee, admitted to acting on behalf of South Africa without notifying the US Attorney General, a violation of US federal law. She also pleaded guilty to making false statements on a government security clearance application.
In addition to the prison sentence, the court ordered Anyamba to serve two years of supervised release and pay a $9,500 fine.
US authorities said Anyamba worked between 2023 and 2024 at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, one of the country's leading scientific research facilities. Investigators alleged that she maintained regular contact with an intelligence officer linked to South Africa's State Security Agency while seeking access to classified information.
The FBI and the US Department of Energy led the investigation, accusing her of concealing her foreign government contacts during the security clearance process.
US Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III said the case underscores the importance of protecting national security and ensuring that individuals with access to sensitive information are trustworthy and transparent.
South Africa's government has not officially commented on the sentencing.
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